In order for Klinsmann to overcome the round of 16 of the 2023 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Qatar Asian Cup, it appears that he will have to overcome the stadium atmosphere that will be reminiscent of his home in Saudi Arabia.

In Doha, Qatar, Saudi soccer fans can be easily found here and there in the city on the 27th (local time), three days before the round of 16 match between Saudi Arabia and the Korean national soccer team led by coach Jurgen Klinsmann.

When Saudi fans meet East Asians, they often ask "Korea? Japan?"

If you answer “Korean,” they excitedly shout that Saudi Arabia will beat Korea and advance to the quarterfinals.

Korea has a number of top players playing in the big leagues, including Son Heung-min (Tottenham), Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain), and Kim Min-jae (Munich), but they are not enough for Saudi Arabia, which is being reborn as a solid team under the training of 'master' coach Roberto Mancini. He also presents his own ‘analysis’ that suggests this may be the case.

Fans cheering for the Saudi national soccer team

According to Saudi reporters and the Korean community in Doha, Saudi soccer fans are flocking to Doha after the Saudi national team confirmed its advancement to the round of 16.

Park Gwan-ho, owner of a construction business here and whose family runs a Korean restaurant in the city, said, "The number of Saudis has increased significantly in the past few days. It seems like everyone is coming to watch the Asian Cup."

It takes 5 hours by car from Riyadh, the Saudi capital, to Doha, and 3 hours from Dammam, the third largest city.This is a level where you can drive without too much effort.

Not only Saudi Arabia, but also people from other Arab countries, such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar, who also advanced to the round of 16, seem to be cheering for Saudi Arabia rather than Korea.

President Park, who has lived in the Middle East for over 20 years, said, "The saying that the closer neighboring countries are, the worse the relationship is, does not apply here. Rather than hating neighboring countries, Arab people have a strong tendency to support them, calling them 'Muslim brother countries'." said. 섯다