Connecting Korean football: a new step for elite academies

This event is part of FIFA’s initiative to support Member Associations in establishing a coordinated development and strengthening the connection between national teams and the domestic elite academies.

As one of five pilot countries chosen by FIFA, the Republic of Korea hosted 75 participants, including representatives from the Korean Football Association (KFA), K-League and elite club academies. The seminar, embedded within the “Made in Korea” (MIK) initiative, aimed to enhance collaboration among stakeholders and establish a foundation for developing world-class players through systemic improvements.

The seminar featured a diverse range of interactive sessions led by FIFA Experts, designed to build a strong framework for the Academy System Project. Key topics included Leadership and Management, Talent Identification and Development, alongside an in-depth discussion of the Korean Academy ecosystem intended to support and reward player development. Additionally, the seminar showcased contributions from KFA with an exploration of the MIK project and a compelling presentation by the K-League, which outlined their game model tailored for academies.

“The FIFA Academy System Project perfectly aligns with the goals of the KFA Technical Department, which focuses on developing world-class individual talents,” said Mr. Daeup Kim, Head of KFA’s Technical Division. “That said, we recognise there has been a lack of communication with the K-League and its academies, despite their crucial role in supporting youth national team development. This project serves as an important stepping stone for the KFA—one we should have taken earlier but hadn’t. We are grateful for the unwavering support of FIFA and its experts, which has made this progress possible, and we hope this initiative will go beyond being just a project and grow into a sustainable platform that supports the mutual development of youth national teams and leading academies.”

Looking ahead, tailored consulting visits, webinars and a follow-up seminar are planned for 2025. With FIFA and the KFA working together, this initiative aims to strengthen Korean football, providing young players with a clear path to professional and international success.