“Women’s football is going through a difficult period, but in some ways, it feels like we’re working from a blank canvas.”
That was how Shin Sangwoo described the rebuilding process when he was appointed head coach of Korea Republic in October 2024. Sixteen months on, he believes the team has completed around 70 per cent of this transition. In that time, Shin has delivered on two major objectives: ending a 20-year wait to win the EAFF E-1 Football Championship and securing qualification for the FIFA Women’s World Cup™. Korea Republic confirmed their place at the global finals for the fourth consecutive time with a 6-0 victory over Uzbekistan in the quarter-finals of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026.
Despite those achievements, Shin has continued to reflect on areas for improvement. Speaking to FIFA, he discussed the lessons learned from both the E-1 triumph and the heavy semi-final defeat to Japan at the Asian Cup, as well as his team’s direction and expectations ahead of the FIFA Series 2026™ in Brazil.
The hallmarks of Shin’s team have been intensity and determination. Using these principles, he has introduced emerging talents such as Kim Shinji, Park Sujeong and Jeon Yugyeong – players who played key roles during the Asian Cup.
“We couldn’t apply a full generational change overnight,” Shin said. “But because we aim to play with high intensity, younger players naturally came into the squad. Players like Kim, Park and Jeon have settled well and grown into key roles, creating strong synergy within the team.”
All three found the net at the Asian Cup and contributed significantly to qualification. Yet Shin remains focused on the next step. “I’m considering bringing in two or three players from the U-20 Asian Cup squad. I want to call up as many players as possible and give them opportunities, to see whether they can execute the style of football I want.”
At the same time, he emphasised the importance of experience: “Senior players like Ji Soyun, Kim Hyeri and Jang Selgi have provided stability, allowing younger players to shine. A rebuild isn’t just about selecting young players — it’s about choosing those who fit our style and are ready to represent the country with responsibility and commitment. Age is not a barrier. That’s why we’ve also called up Seo Yejin, who is 30, for the FIFA Series 2026.”
A clear direction has already produced results. Korea Republic lifted the EAFF title ahead of Japan, China and Chinese Taipei, and also topped their group at the Asian Cup ahead of hosts Australia. However, their progress was halted in the semi-finals by eventual champions Japan, who inflicted a 4-1 defeat.
“I was pleased to achieve our two main objectives – winning the group and reaching the semi-finals – but disappointed not to achieve the final goal,” Shin said. “We showed progress after the E-1 Championship, but the defeat to Japan taught me a lot. We tried playing on the counter-attack, but conceding early against a strong team put pressure on the players.”
For Shin, the loss was a learning experience rather than a setback. “We will prepare for the World Cup with a system and tactics the players can clearly understand,” he said. “But next time we face Japan, I want us to take it to them. With greater intensity, we may have a better chance.”
With Women’s World Cup 2027 on the horizon, Shin views the FIFA Series 2026 as a valuable test. Korea Republic will face Brazil, as well as Canada and Zambia, in Cuiaba – all strong opponents ahead of next year’s global finals. “It’s a great opportunity as we prepare for the World Cup,” Shin said. “We’re happy to face some of the strongest teams in women’s football. The FIFA Series will not only give us experience against top opposition, but also help us adapt to local conditions.”
His primary objective for the tournament is to get a closer look at his team. “I’ve selected many players who didn’t feature heavily at the Asian Cup, as well as some new faces I wanted to assess. This is an opportunity to evaluate individuals and understand the squad more clearly.” He also sees it as a chance to expose weaknesses: “Against weaker teams, shortcomings are not always visible. But against strong teams, they become clear. That gives us an opportunity to test different tactical approaches and strategies.”
While detailed planning is still ongoing, Shin has already set a clear target for the Women’s World Cup. “Our first objective is to reach the round of 16,” he said. “Korea Republic have not done so since 2015. Achieving that will allow us to aim higher. Beyond that, we are thinking about the quarter-finals, but that is a longer-term goal.”
With more than 400 days remaining until kick-off, Shin’s focus is already firmly set. “The key areas we need to improve are work rate and defensive stability,” he said. “Our attacking structure is taking shape, but defensively we need to be more solid. Against weaker teams we don’t concede, but against stronger teams we do. Conceding fewer goals will always increase our chances of winning.”
