7 players including Son Heung-min and Hwang Hee-chan to Yang Min-hyuk to showcase an epic ‘Korean Week’

[Star Daily News=Reporter Kim Nana] Coupang Play will broadcast live the third round of the FA Cup, England’s most prestigious football tournament, from the 11th (Sat) to the 13th (Mon).

The third round of the FA Cup is expected to be a ‘Korean Week’ with numerous Korean players participating. The English FA Cup is the largest football tournament in England involving both amateur and top league teams. With participation from the Premier League (1st division, hereinafter PL) and EFL (2nd division), matches from six teams with Korean players will be held over three days from the weekend to early Monday morning. Not only Son Heung-min, Yang Min-hyuk (Tottenham), Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton), Kim Ji-soo (Brentford), but also Baek Seung-ho (Birmingham), Bae Jun-ho (Stoke), and Um Ji-seong (Swansea) from the EFL can be expected to participate, totaling 7 Korean players. The most attention is being paid to the match on the 12th (Sun) between Tottenham and Tamworth from England’s National League (5th division).

If Tottenham fields rookies and substitutes against the 5th division team, this match could be Yang Min-hyuk’s first team debut. Yang Min-hyuk is the 2024 K League 1 Young Player award winner and was selected as ‘Coupang Young Player’ in the 2024 Coupang Play Series, having confronted Tottenham as a promising star, officially joining Tottenham’s player list in January. Especially since he was included in the entry for the Carabao Cup first leg against Liverpool on the 9th, the possibility of appearing in the FA Cup has increased, raising fans’ expectations to see him on the field alongside Captain Son Heung-min.

Commentator Lim Hyung-chul said, “It’s a match where Tottenham, facing Newcastle, Liverpool, and Arsenal consecutively, is having a ‘death January’ and can expect a definite victory,” and added, “Tottenham has not reached the FA Cup quarter-finals for the sixth season, and there is hope for a change in their performance.”

In addition to the participation of Korean players, another highlight of the third round is the classic derby between Arsenal and Manchester United (hereafter referred to as Man U). Arsenal, the most successful team in FA Cup history with 14 wins, and defending champions Man U are set to clash from the third round, drawing significant attention. Additionally, big clubs such as Liverpool, Chelsea, and Man City will face off against lower league teams, presenting a different kind of excitement apart from the PL ranking competition.

Commentator Hwang Deok-yeon noted, “Arsenal, missing key striker Saka due to a long-term injury, and Man U, who reached the FA Cup final for two consecutive years recently, have met at the third round,” adding, “Man U’s draw against league leaders Liverpool broke their losing streak, and it’s worth watching if they will create a turnaround against Arsenal.”

Coupang Play will present the FA Cup third round, packed with Korean players and big clubs, with the best broadcasting dream team. On the 11th (Sat), the match between Wolverhampton and Bristol will be called by commentator Hwang Deok-yeon and caster Ahn Hyung-jin. On the 12th (Sun), the Tottenham vs Tamworth match will feature commentator Lim Hyung-chul with caster Yoon Jang-hyun, and the Arsenal vs Man U “classic derby” on the 12th (Sun) will have commentator Hwang Deok-yeon with caster Kim Yong-nam. Each matchup will provide top-level broadcasting with its unique commentator-caster pairings. 

Until the winner is decided in May of this year, the entire journey of the English FA Cup can only be followed on Coupang Play.