🌎 The Club World Cup guide to...Ulsan HD | OneFootball

Our guide to all 32 clubs participating at the FIFA Club World Cup continues.

Today we're looking at...Ulsan HD.

How did they qualify for the Club World Cup?

📸 Chung Sung-Jun - 2012 Getty Images

Ulsan HD secured their spot in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup by reaching the semi-finals of the 2023/24 AFC Champions League and therefore earning enough points through the AFC confederation rankings.

History at the Club World Cup

📸 Lintao Zhang - 2012 Getty Images

This marks Ulsan's second appearance in the Club World Cup. Their previous participation was in 2012 where they were eliminated in the quarterfinals.

How did they perform in the 2024/25 season?

Midway through the K League season and Ulsan are currently third with eight wins from 18 games. Things were less rosy in the AFC Champions League as the Korean outfit won just one of their seven games.

Who is the coach?

📸 Fred Lee - 2024 Getty Images

Kim Pan-gon took over as head coach of Ulsan in July 2024, following the departure of Hong Myung-bo to manage the South Korean national team. Kim, previously the head coach of Malaysia's national team, led Ulsan to their third consecutive K League 1 title in 2024.

Who is their star player?

Venezuelan winger Matías Lacava, who joined Ulsan in January 2025, has quickly become a key player. Known for his dribbling and creativity, Lacava has become a lynchpin in their attack.

Expected performance at the Club World Cup

Ulsan face a challenging group stage drawn alongside Borussia Dortmund, Fluminense, and Mamelodi Sundowns. Getting out of said Group F would be considered a huge achievement.

📸 Chung Sung-Jun - 2024 Getty Images