South Korea 0-4 Ivory Coast Highlights, FIFA International Friendly: The Elephants Blank Taegeuk Warriors

Good evening and a very warm welcome to everyone joining us this Saturday. Sit back and relax as we take you through the build-up and live updates of the international friendly game between South Korea and Ivory Coast.

The match kicks off at 7:30pm IST. The South Korea vs Ivory Coast international friendly will not be streamed or televised live on any platform in India. It will be shown live on RTI La 3 and NCI in Ivory Coast. Fans in South Korea can watch the match live on TV Chosun, TVN, TVING, and Coupang Play.

Here is how South Korea and Ivory Coast line up for tonight's friendly:

Play is underway at Stadium MK. Hwang Hee-Chan wins a free kick on the left wing for South Korea following a foul by Emmanuel Agbadou, but nothing comes off it.

While the possession has been evenly distributed between the two teams, it's South Korea who have had three shots on goal so far as against Ivory Coast's none. No shots on target yet, however.

The build-up to FIFA World Cup 2026 has been contentious, to say the least. The ongoing US-Israel-Iran war has rendered Team Melli's participation doubtful and their football federation is negotiating with FIFA to possibly relocate their matches to Mexico.

Meanwhile, Iranian players held small backpacks as they used a match against Nigeria on Friday to honour the victims of a deadly missile strike on an elementary school. During the national anthem, the Iranian team honoured the memory of the slain children by placing small pink and purple school backpacks in front of them.

Ivory Coast take the lead in the 35th minute! Martial Godo sets Evann Guessand up and the latter slams it in from his right foot into the bottom right corner.

The Elephants have really come alive in the last 20 minutes. They have suddenly gone from no shots to seven, and four of them on goal. They have also swung the possession their way (56%). The Koreans need to regroup urgently.

Simon Adingra doubles Ivory Coast's lead at the stroke of half-time! The winger latches on to Parfait Guiagon's assist and shoots it into the bottom right corner. The referee blows the whistle after three minutes of stoppage time and South Korea have a lot to think about, down 0-2 at half-time.

The players are back from the mid-game interval and the second half kicks off. South Korea make three substitutions: Lee Han-Beom replaces Cho Yu-Mi, Paik Seung-Ho comes in for Park Jin-Seob and Yang Hyun-Jun replaces Kim Moon-Hwan.

South Korea, under the pump today, have made the most FIFA World Cup appearances for an Asian side. They will be playing their 12th edition in the Americas, and their 11th consecutive one since 1986.

The team is currently led by Hong Myungbo, who has experienced the global showpiece as a player, assistant coach, and head coach. At Qatar 2022, the Taegeuk Warriors advanced to the round of 16 for the first time in 12 years, but their campaign ended with a defeat to Brazil.

Ivory Coast have a third! Korea goalie Jo Hyeon-Woo saves Evann Guessand's shot but is unable to keep out Martial Godo's tap-in from the resulting corner in the 62nd minute. The Elephants are rampant, and the Taegeuk Warriors have nowhere to hide!

Unlike South Korea, Ivory Coast have not been a regular fixture at the FIFA World Cup in recent times. The Elephants are returning to World Cup action following a 12-year absence; they last appeared in 2014, when they narrowly missed a round of 16 berth.

Emerse Fae’s men, who claimed the CAF Africa Cup of Nations title on home soil in 2024, will head to North America seeking the breakthrough their fans have craved for more than 20 years: a place in the knockout phase that has eluded them in their three attempts since their debut in 2006.

Ivory Coast find a fourth goal at the stroke of the full-time whistle to round out a comprehensive 4-0 win over South Korea. Wilfried Singo is the fresh name on the goal sheet, set up by Amad Diallo after a fast break. The Elephants gain a lot of confidence from the tune-up fixture, while the Taegeuk Warriors need to go back to the drawing board.