2026 K League 1 Round 1 Preview

The 2026 season of the Hana Bank K League 1 kicks off on Saturday, February 28 at 2 p.m., starting with matchups between Incheon United and FC Seoul, and Ulsan HD and Gangwon FC. After a long winter, K League 1 returns to the fans and opens the first chapter of the new season. Here are some key storylines to watch in the opening round.

Saturday 28th February

Incheon United vs. FC Seoul - 14:00 

Incheon United, who won the K League 2 title last season to earn promotion back to K League 1 after one year, are determined to carry that momentum into their home opener. Proven attacking resources Stefan Mugosa and Gerso Fernandes are expected to show their firepower again this season, while winter signings Lee Chung-yong, Oh Hu-seong, Jung Chi-in, and Jeong Tae-wook add depth and experience to the squad. Attention will also be on newly signed Spanish midfielder Iker Undabarrena and center back Juan Ibiza in the Gyeongin Derby opener.

FC Seoul, meanwhile, completed major signings across all positions during the winter transfer window. They strengthened their attack by bringing in forward Leonardo Ruiz from Seongnam FC and Song Min-kyu from Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors. They also bolstered their defense with top-level K League goalkeeper Gu Sung-yun and La Masia–trained defender Juan Ros. Re-signing Yazan Al-Arab, who anchored Seoul’s solid defense last season, is another positive.

Ulsan HD vs. Gangwon FC - 14:00 (ENG)

Under new head coach Kim Hyun-seok, Ulsan aim to restore the club’s former glory. Putting last season’s disappointment behind them, they have made sweeping reinforcements. Led by returning loanee Yago Cariello and new signings Pedrinho and Benji Michel to maximize attacking power, Ulsan have also strengthened midfield intensity with Park Woo-jin, Lee Min-hyuk, and returning player Lee Gyu-seong. Coach Kim expressed strong confidence in his team's organisation. Fans are eager to see how the younger, more dynamic Ulsan side will perform in their home opener.

Gangwon FC, entering head coach Jeong Kyung-ho’s second year, are determined to build on last season’s fifth-place finish and their run to the AFC Champions League Elite Round of 16. Focusing on squad stability, they added Israeli forward Abdalla Hleihel and 2008-born prospect Lee Eun-ho to refresh their attack. Veteran Hong Chul re-signed, and ex-Pohang starlet Goh Young-jun joined to add creativity in midfield. Centered around captain Lee You-hyun, Gangwon aim to continue last season’s upward momentum from the very first whistle.

Gimcheon Sangmu vs. Pohang Steelers - 16:30 (ENG)

With new head coach Joo Seung-jin at the helm, Gimcheon are determined to carry over last season’s momentum with sharper attacking football. Led by captain Lee Jung-taek, who enters his second consecutive season wearing the armband, Gimcheon have built strong team cohesion. Players proven in K League 1, such as Go Jae-hyun, Kim In-gyun, Lim Deok-geun, Jeon Byeong-gwan, Kim Ju-chan, Lee Sang-heon, and Hong Yun-sang, are set to make an impact this season. Gimcheon have been strong against Pohang, recording six wins, two draws, and two losses in their last ten meetings. It remains to be seen whether they can continue that dominance in the opener.

Pohang Steelers, now in their third year under head coach Park Tae-ha, aim to overcome their recent struggles against Gimcheon through precise organization. They accelerated their generational transition by signing young talents Son Seung-beom, Jin Si-woo, and Jung Han-min during the winter window. Defensively, captain Jeon Min-kwang and goalkeeper Hwang In-jae provide stability, showcasing a strong blend of youth and experience. If Lee Ho-jae, who recorded a career-high 15 goals and one assist last season, and resurgent forward Jorge Teixeira deliver again, Pohang can challenge Gimcheon’s momentum.

Sunday 1st March

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors vs. Bucheon FC 1995 - 14:00 (ENG)

Under newly appointed head coach Chung Jung-yong, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors raised expectations by winning the 2026 K League Super Cup. Newly joined players were central to that triumph: Bruno Mota scored the opening goal and earned MVP honours, midfielder Oberdan stood out on both ends of the pitch, and Park Ji-soo contributed to a clean sheet with rock-solid defending. After winning both K League 1 and the Korea Cup last season, Jeonbuk aim to maintain their status as a powerhouse and a strong title contender this year.

Bucheon achieved a long-awaited promotion by defeating Suwon FC in last season’s Promotion-Relegation Playoffs. Facing last year’s double winners Jeonbuk in their first match after promotion brings both pressure and excitement. Bucheon also reinforced their squad significantly, signing experienced K League 1 midfielders Yoon Bit-garam and Kim Jong-woo, as well as versatile wide players Kim Min-jun and Shin Jae-won, who was named Best XI defender in K League 2 last season. With last year’s combined 29 goals and assists from contributors Rodrigo Bassani and Jefferson Gallego still in the squad, the key will be how well new faces integrate with the existing core.

Jeju SK vs. Gwangju FC -- 16:30 (ENG)

Jeju appointed Sergio Costa, who served as assistant coach during Korea’s run to the Round of 16 at the 2022 Qatar World Cup, as manager, signaling a structural overhaul. Costa has promised proactive, dominant football built on solid organization. Jeju re-signed key veterans Nam Tae-hee, Lee Chang-min, and Jung Woon, while strengthening the squad with foreign additions, including Gytis Paulauskas, Emerson Negueba, and Julien Celestin. After finishing 11th last season following a Promotion-Relegation Playoff, Jeju aim to showcase a completely transformed identity under their new manager.

Although Gwangju FC parted ways with head coach Lee Jung-hyo, who led the club through promotion, a third-place K League 1 finish, and an AFC Champions League Elite quarterfinal run, they opted for continuity by appointing his former assistant Lee Jung-kyu as head coach. Well-versed in Gwangju’s tactical identity, Lee plans to further solidify the team’s organic system. Key players, including captain Ahn Young-gyu, Choi Kyung-rok, Shin Chang-mu, Kim Kyeong-min, and Ju Se-jong, have remained, preserving organizational stability. The key question this season is how consistently Gwangju can maintain their distinctive style under new leadership.

Monday 2nd March

Daejeon Hana Citizen vs. FC Anyang - 14:00

After achieving a club-best runner-up finish in K League 1 last season, Daejeon Hana Citizen are widely regarded as strong title contenders this year. At the league’s opening media day on February 25, they received votes from seven teams as potential champions. Adding Joo Min-kyu, Kim Moon-hwan, Anton Kryvotsyuk, Um Won-sang, Gustav Ludwigson, and Diogo Oliveira has strengthened every position. Although they fell 2-0 to Jeonbuk in the Super Cup, their fluid passing and sharp wing play early in the match were impressive. The key question is whether they can prove their championship credentials in the home opener.

Entering their second year in K League 1, FC Anyang secured a stable eighth-place finish last season. They expanded their attacking options by signing versatile youth international Lee Jin-yong and Brazilian Flamengo youth product striker Breno Herculano. Goalkeeper Kim Jung-hoon and wing forward Airton Moisés have also joined. With captain Lee Chang-yong anchoring strong team cohesion, the main storyline is whether Anyang can demonstrate dark-horse potential against title-favorite Daejeon.

Via K League press release

Where to Watch

Watch all matches live on TV.KLeague.com. English commentary provided where indicated.