Son criticizes poor pitch conditions after consecutive home draws in World Cup qualifiers

Captain Son Heung-min asserts that subpar playing surfaces have played a role in South Korea's inconsistent World Cup qualifying efforts, following two home matches that ended in 1-1 draws during the March international window.

Despite these draws against Oman in Goyang last Thursday and Jordan in Suwon on Tuesday, South Korea remains at the top of Group B, leading by three points. However, a victory in either match would have secured their place in the finals.

The games were relocated to regional venues due to the inadequate pitch conditions at the Seoul World Cup Stadium, yet Son expressed dissatisfaction with the quality of the fields in Goyang and Suwon as well.

"I think there's a reason why we've had better results in away matches," the Tottenham Hotspur forward told Yonhap News Agency.

"When we're at home, we're supposed to enjoy the best playing conditions possible, but things have not improved at all.

"I know we can play better than this, but when conditions on our home soil get in the way, then I wonder where we should get our home field advantage.

"I know this may sound like an excuse, but every small detail matters in football. It can make the difference of getting one point or getting three points. I hope people will pay closer attention to it."

South Korea will guarantee their spot in the finals of the World Cup for the 11th consecutive time if they manage to avoid a loss against Iraq in Basra on June 5. They will then return home to face Kuwait in their final round-three qualifier on June 10.

Son emphasized that the South Korean team should graciously learn from the draw against Jordan, while also encouraging his younger teammates to maintain their confidence.

"Despite this disappointment, we're still leading our group and that's a fact. We want to stay there until the end of the round," he said.

"For our young players, it can be an honour to play for the country but it can also put a lot of pressure on them.

"I told them if we just keep working at it, we will finish in first place. I think the most important thing for these young guys is not to lose their confidence."