South Korea
FIFA #19
Co-hosted 2002 and somehow reached the semi-finals, which is either the greatest underdog story ever or the most controversial tournament in history — depends who you ask. The Red Devils are always, always loud.
📍 In the US
Staged out of Los Angeles, where Koreatown is one of the most densely populated Korean communities outside Korea itself. The Red Devils support network here is organized, prepared, and not going to let anyone in Southern California sleep on tournament matchdays.
Style
High-press and high-intensity, tracking runners relentlessly and looking to win the ball back immediately to launch quick attacks.
Rivals
Japan. The rivalry crosses every sport and every era — in football, South Korea usually has the last word, and they take considerable satisfaction in that.
Home Base
South Korea's football culture is as intense as everything else the country does — the Red Devils supporters group organizes mass viewings in public squares that draw hundreds of thousands. The 2002 co-hosted World Cup remains the defining sporting moment in modern Korean memory, and the passion hasn't dimmed since.
Human Rights
Freedom House
Political rights and civil liberties score (higher = more free)
Reporters Without Borders
Press Freedom Index ranking (lower = more free, out of 180 countries)
UN Human Development Index
Human Development Index score (higher = more developed, 0–1 scale)
Transparency International
Perceived public sector corruption — higher is cleaner
ILGA World
Legal status of same-sex relationships