2026 K League 2 Round 1 Preview

The 2026 Hana Bank K League 2 will kick off its long journey starting with Round 1, which takes place over three days from Saturday, February 28 to Monday, March 2. This season will feature 17 teams, with newly founded clubs Gimhae FC 2008, Yongin FC, and Paju Frontier joining the competition. Each team will play a total of 34 rounds in a double round-robin format. Since the league operates with an odd number of teams, each team will have two bye rounds. Gimpo FC will sit out the opening round.

Saturday 28th February

Gimhae FC 2008 vs. Ansan Greeners - 14:00

Gimhae FC 2008 and Ansan Greeners will open this season’s K League 2 campaign. The key storyline is that Gimhae are the reigning K3 League champions, while Ansan finished bottom of K League 2 last season. Founded in 2008, Gimhae have won the K3 League twice. This year, they undertook a major squad overhaul as they step into the professional ranks. Only seven players from last season’s title-winning squad remain, with the rest newly signed. Veteran goalkeeper Choi Phil-soo will guard the net, while Lee Seul-chan has stayed with the team. Seol Hyun-jin remains on loan, and foreign players Bruno Costa and Beka Mikeltadze bring K League experience. Now in his third year, head coach Son Hyun-jun adds stability, and attention is focused on what identity the team will show in its professional debut.

Ansan Greeners, meanwhile, are determined to restore their pride after finishing bottom of K League 2 for the first time in club history last season. With frequent roster turnover each year, the management of newly appointed head coach Choi Moon-sik will be especially important. Notably, Yeon Je-min has returned after four years away, and former Leverkusen attacking midfielder Ryu Seung-woo has rejoined the K League after three years. Veterans such asCho Ji-hun and Lee Seung-bin have also stayed, giving the team a degree of stability. Ansan have the potential to surprise.

Suwon Samsung Bluewings vs. Seoul E-Land - 16:30

This is the biggest match of the round. Suwon Bluewings host Seoul E-Land, a team that has consistently troubled them. Historically, Seoul E-Land have dominate the head-to-head record with five wins and one loss.

Suwon were the hottest team of the preseason. By appointing head coach Lee Jung-hyo from Gwangju, they demonstrated their ambition for promotion. Their new signings are equally impressive: defenders Hong Jeong-ho, Song Ju-hun, and Lee Jun-jae, along with goalkeeper Kim Jun-hong, have joined. In attack, they added Fessin and Reis, while the midfield was strengthened with Park Hyun-bin, Jung Ho-yeon, and the returning Ko Seung-beom. They reinforced last season’s shaky defense while also adding quality in midfield and attack. Both the coach and squad appear comparable to K League 1 standards, which is why they are considered strong title contenders.

However, matchups matter, especially against head coach Kim Do-kyun and Seoul E-Land. Seoul are also legitimate promotion contenders. To maintain last season’s attacking strength, they signed Euller permanently and added Park Jae-yong and Kim Hyun up front. Although goalkeeper Gu Sung-yun, a key player in the second half of last season, departed, Min Sung-jun has filled the vacancy. Kim Do-kyun, entering his third year in charge, is another significant factor.

Sunday 1st March

Yongin FC vs. Cheonan City - 14:00 

New club Yongin FC will play their first K League 2 match at home against Cheonan City, a side thatnarrowly avoided finishing bottom last season and are desperate for a rebound. Although Yongin are hard to predict as a new team, the roster includes many familiar names: Shin Jin-ho, Choi Young-jun, Kim Bo-seop, and Lim Chae-min, all seasoned K League players. Suk Hyun-jun is also set to make his K League debut. Additionally, much attention surrounds whether Emanuel Novo, the first foreign goalkeeper in K League in 27 years, will feature. Head coach Choi Yun-kyum previously led Chungbuk Cheongju successfully in their first K League season, raising the possibility that Yongin could emerge as a dark horse.

Cheonan, under head coach Park Jin-sub, are aiming for change. Park previously achieved promotion with Gwangju and finished second in the league with Busan. He is well-versed in K League 2. During training camp in Thailand, he even scheduled three training sessions per day, signaling a shift in team culture. With Toungara remaining and additions such as goalkeeper Park Dae-han and Bruno Lamas, Cheonan hope to strengthen their squad.

Daegu FC vs. Hwaseong FC - 14:00

Daegu FC, relegated automatically from K League 1 after finishing bottom last season, face Hwaseong FC, who placed 10th in their inaugural season last year. It’s a clash between a team seeking redemption and one aiming to leap forward in its second year.

Daegu return to K League 2 after 10 years. After years of relying on a back-three system in K League 1, they shifted to a four-back system under head coach Kim Byung-soo late last season. They aim for promotion using this foundation. Cesinha and Edgar remain key figures, while the midfield has been reinforced with Han Kook-young and Ryu Jae-moon. In attack, the signing of Matheus Serafim should ease the defensive pressure that was previously concentrated on Cesinha. Retaining most core players is another positive.

Hwaseong displayed stable performances last season and now aim higher. Demethryus and Aleksandar Vojnović remain, with Leonard Plana newly joining. Maintaining their back-three system and adding Jang Min-jun strengthens both the flanks and defensive organisation. With a young squad’s energy and head coach Cha Du-ri’s tactical identity, they are capable of causing upsets.

Chunbuk Cheongju vs. Suwon FC - 14:00

These two sides meet for the first time in K League competition. Chungbuk Cheongju finished 12th last season, while Suwon FC ended 10th in K League 1 before being relegated via the Promotion-Relegation Playoffs.

For Chungbuk Cheongju, head coach Rui Quinta is key. Known as an expert in tactics, he has been implementing his philosophy during pre-season. He even discouraged individual training sessions to emphasize collective discipline. How well this philosophy translates to K League players will shape the team’s early form. They are one of the most unpredictable teams this season.

Suwon FC are also rebuilding and appointed Park Kun-ha, a coach familiar with the K League. The team is placing high expectations on foreign attackers: alongside Wilyan, they signed Matheus Babi, Matheus Frizzo, and Martin Hoel Andersen, all attackers except defender Derlan. Their performances will largely determine Suwon FC’s offensive sharpness.

Gyeongnam FC vs. Jeonnam Dragons - 16:30

Two experienced K League 2 teams clash in the opener, both determined to earn promotion. Last season, Jeonnam held the edge with two wins and one draw. Gyeongnam have underperformed for two consecutive seasons. After showing promotion potential in the 2023 playoffs, they finished 12th and 11th in subsequent seasons. To change the atmosphere, they appointed new head coach Bae Sung-jae. Veterans Yun Il-lok and Lee Bum-soo bring experience, while Won Ki-jong and Lee Chan-dong lead as captain and vice-captain. The balance between experience and youth will be crucial.

Jeonnam narrowly missed the playoffs last season due to defensive instability late in the campaign. Now under head coach Park Dong-hyuk, they begin anew. Retaining most key players gives them strong cohesion. “Gwangyang Jesus” Valdivia remains a major threat as they aim once again for promotion.

Monday 2nd March

Chungnam Asan vs. Paju Frontier - 14:00

Chungnam Asan, who finished ninth last season, face newcomers Paju Frontier in their first-ever meeting. Chungnam Asan failed to build on their runner-up finish in 2024 and are targeting a rebound. After appointing head coach Lim Kwan-sik early, they began training camp in mid-December, spending nearly three months preparing. They reduced squad size to increase focus. However, they must fill gaps left by transfers and military enlistments.

Paju Frontier, led by general manager Hwangbo Kwan, have significantly reinforced their squad. Except for Lee Je-ho, the entire roster consists of new signings. Players such as Lee Jun-seok, Hong Jeong-un, and Jeon Hyun-byeong strengthen both defense and attack. With five foreign players and head coach Gerard Nus at the helm, Paju’s season outlook will begin to take shape from the opening match.

Busan IPark vs. Seongnam FC - 16:30

Two familiar rivals meet in the opening round. Seongnam had the edge last season with one win and two draws, but over the last five matches, the record is even at one win, three draws, and one loss.

Busan opted for major changes. Key foreign players departed, and the coaching staff was reorganized with the additions of senior assistant coach Choi Won-kwon and goalkeeping coach Lee Yong-bal. Rather than flashy signings, Busan emphasize organization and stability, supported by experienced additions such as Gabriel, Ahn Hyun-beom, and Woo Ju-sung. Replacing the defensive presence of Cho Wi-je remains a key challenge.

Seongnam also underwent significant squad changes, losing key players including Ruiz, Shin Jae-won, Yang Han-bin, and Kim Ju-won. Head coach Jeon Kyung-jun brought in Shun Kudo, Ryoji Fujimori, and Rodrigo Angelotti from Japan’s J3 League. Having successfully integrated Park Soo-bin from J3 last year, the adaptation of these new foreign signings will be crucial. The retention of Elionay Freitas and Venício Tomás provides stability.

via K League press release

Where to Watch

Watch all games live on TV.KLeague.com.