Club World Cup Preview: Ulsan HD

In partnership with

Hooligan Soccer

·10 giugno 2025

Club World Cup Preview: Ulsan HD

The twenty-second in our continuing series highlighting all thirty-two clubs in the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup. The event starts on Saturday, June 14th.

Club Background

From: Ulsan, South Korea
How They Qualified: Because of Al-Ain’s surprise repeat with of the AFC Champions League in 2024 and extra slot opened up, and Ulsan was the team with the highest 4-year ranking via the AFC pathway.
Best CWC Finish: This is their third appearance. They have never placed higher than last.

Recent Form: They are three-peat champions of the top-division K League 1 since 2022. However, their performance in this year’s AFC Champions League has been abysmal. They have one win in seven games, and have only scored four goals.
Facts: Founded in 1983 in Gangwon Province, but moved to Ulsan in 1990. The club is owned by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries. They are the only club whose victories in the AFC Championship came without suffering a single loss (in 2012 and 2020). In the early 2000s they were known as the “Gangsters of Asia” for their potent attack and numerous multiple goal victories.

The Team

Manager: Kim Pan-Gon He was previously the manager of the Malaysia national team. The club’s managers have always been South Korean.
Star Players: Erick Farias Brazilian attacking midfielder with 8g since he joined from Gaúcho. Seung-beom Ko Box-to-box midfielder with 2 assists. Darijan Bojanić Swedish center midfielder. Has 2g/2a in 10 games.
Young Players: Yool Heo 24 year-old striker with 2g/2a in 15 games. Kang Min-woo 21 year-old defender. Promising youth prospect.
Training Sites: Charlotte FC, Charlotte, North Carolina

When to Watch

6:00pm ET on Jun 17, 2025 vs. Mamelodi Sundowns @ Inter&Co Stadium, Orlando, FL
6:00pm ET on Jun 21, 2025 vs. Fluminense @ MetLife Stadium, New York, NY
3:00pm ET on Jun 25, 2025 vs. Borussia Dortmund @ TQL Stadium, Cincinnati, OH

The Hooligan Take

Ulsan has a long and storied legacy in Asian soccer, particularly in the early 2000s. The old tournament format of single elimination matches never did them any favors. But with three games to play, and the somewhat soft composition of Group F, this is the best chance they will get. They have to shrug off their terrible form in the Champions League group stage.