Manchester CityTeam·Manchester City secured a 3-1 victory over the K-League All Stars in a pre-season friendly at the Seoul World Cup StadiumVenue·Seoul World Cup Stadium on August 5, 2026. The win marked a significant milestone for Enzo Maresca, registering his first triumph as Manchester CityTeam·Manchester City manager.
The match unfolded under oppressive conditions, with temperatures hovering around 36 degrees Celsius at kick-off, presenting a stern test of endurance for both squads. Despite the extreme Korean heat, Manchester CityTeam·Manchester City demonstrated a potent attacking display in the first half.
Rayan Ait-Nouri opened the scoring for City, followed by goals from Tijjani ReijndersPlayer·Tijjani Reijnders and Divin MubamaPlayer·Divin Mubama, showcasing the depth and offensive capabilities within the squad. The K-League All Stars managed to pull one goal back through a well-struck effort from Kim Dae WonPlayer·Kim Dae Won. The second half saw a flurry of substitutions, with 24 changes across both teams, which naturally led to a more subdued pace of play as fresh legs entered the fray.
Manchester CityTeam·Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca acknowledged the demanding environment and praised his players' commitment.
"It was important to see them work hard in the heat,"— Enzo Maresca.
This fixture was part of Manchester CityTeam·Manchester City's pre-season tour of Asia, following a 1-1 draw against Inter Milan, which they subsequently lost in a penalty shootout. The 2025/26 season saw Manchester CityTeam·Manchester City finish second in the Premier LeagueCompetition·Premier League with 71 points from 34 matches. They also claimed both the FA CupCompetition·FA Cup and the EFL CupCompetition·EFL Cup, while reaching the Round of 16 in the UEFA Champions LeagueCompetition·Champions League. Notable players, including Erling HaalandPlayer·Erling Haaland, were unavailable for this friendly due to an extended post-World Cup break.
The K-League All Stars, an exhibition team comprising top talents from the K-League 1, provided formidable opposition. This annual event allows K-League players to test their mettle against elite international clubs, a tradition that saw them defeat Newcastle UnitedTeam·Newcastle United 1-0 in July 2025. The squad for this encounter featured 24 K-League 1 players, including the league's current top scorers, Yago Cariello RibeiroPlayer·Yago Cariello Ribeiro and Lee Dong-gyeong. The team was co-managed by Chung Jung-yongCoach·Chung Jung-yong, coach of Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, and Chung Kyung-hoCoach·Chung Kyung-ho, Head Coach of Gangwon FCTeam·Gangwon FC.
As a pre-season friendly, the result carries no direct implications for Manchester CityTeam·Manchester City's upcoming domestic or European campaigns, nor for the K-League All Stars. It served as a crucial preparatory step for Manchester CityTeam·Manchester City ahead of the 2026/27 season and an exciting spectacle for football enthusiasts in Korea.
Mateo Kovacic in action for Manchester City against K League All-Stars in Seoul. Credit: Matrix Images/IMAGO
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