2026 Season Preview: FC Pohang Steelers | OneFootball

With popular manager Park Taeha committed to the club through 2028, the Steelers are riding a wave of fervent support from local fans despite inconsistent and at times underwhelming performances last season. Pohang is the only K League 1 side to have finished in the top half of the table in all of the last four seasons — is it time for the five-time champions to make another long-awaited push for the top?

Last Season

16W-8D-14L,4th

What Happened?

Pohang were good but not brilliant in 2025, with a sluggish start and a feeble finish, but enough results in the middle somewhere to see them into a very respectable fourth place by the end of the season. The club enjoys a good relationship with its fans, largely thanks to popular recruitment decisions, and the atmosphere at the Steelyard remains one of the best in the league despite performances that more closely resemble the pitch itself (a bit patchy in places).

The Steelers struggled to hit consistent form last season and suffered from a lack of goals that left them vulnerable to opposition teams making a late comeback. Fortunately for Park Taeha and his men, several would-be close rivals struggled even more, and Pohang did enough to improve upon their 2024 position and qualify for the 2026-27 ACLE playoff round.

Solid performances in defence and midfield from the likes of Eo Jeongwon and Jeon Mingwang, not to mention a safe pair of hands in veteran keeper Hwang Injae, kept the team out of too much trouble. Lee Hojae, who missed much of the 2024 season due to injury, made his presence felt up front with 15 goals, but the rest of Pohang's disappointing 41 goals were shared amongst the squad.

Season highlights included away wins at both Daegu and Gimcheon, fixtures that had become 'jinxed' for Pohang of late. Low points were a humiliating 5-1 loss at home to relegation favourites Suwon FC, and being knocked out of the Korea Cup by K League 2 outfit Gimpo. On the whole, the Steelers looked like a solid mid-table side, their position in the table boosted by goings-on elsewhere.

Oberdan: 

Since first arriving at the Steelyard in 2023, fan favourite Oberdan has been one of the most consistent players in the squad. On the rare occasion that he has been missing due to injury or suspension, his absence has been sorely felt and there are big boots to fill in Pohang's midfield now that 'Obe' has moved north to Jeonju.

Jakob Tranziska:

24-year-old centre forward Tranziska hails from Germany and has been bouncing around second-tier clubs in Europe prior to signing with the Steelers this winter. Fans are hoping Tranziska could be the answer to Pohang's goal deficit, especially if Lee Hojae is to move on in the summer.

Shin Kwanghoon and Ki Sungyueng:

The club's most iconichyung duo have both signed on for another year, news met with sighs of relief and cheers of joy in Pohang. Between Ki's calm demeanour and Shin's feistier character, they bring a wealth of experience to the dressing room, if and when they are able to get there without being accosted by the club's social media team — the Steelers have gained quite a reputation for their online content.

Key Player

Nishiya Kento

Central midfielder Nishiya Kento has joined the club on loan from J League side Sagan Tosu. Known for his stamina and vision, he is expected to become a key playmaker for Pohang, operating in the space left behind by the departure of Oberdan. A dynamic and versatile player, he appears to be settling in well with his new teammates and is now keen to prove himself to Pohang's fans, who respect hard work and dedication above all else.

Young Player to Watch

Hong Seongmin

Among the five — yes, five — goalkeepers named in Pohang’s 2026 squad is Hong Seongmin, who made his professional debut with the club against Jeonbuk Hyundai last summer. As the first-pick goalkeeper for South Korea’s U-23 side recently, it’s easy to forget that Pohang academy graduate Hong is only 19 years old. He may not be ready for regular league starts yet, and like his senior Lee Seunghwan, he could benefit from a season or two out on loan, but Hong is unquestionably an exciting talent to keep an eye on.

Biggest Question

Is a top half finish enough?

The Steelers can be hit-and-miss within the season, but there is some degree of year-on-year consistency; Pohang is the only K League 1 club to have finished in the top half of the table in all of the last four seasons. It goes without saying that finishing in the top half is better thannot finishing in the top half, but do Pohang fans have to settle for being reliably better than average, or can the Steelers challenge for more?

There has been hope and glory for Pohang in recent years, with a second place league finish in 2023 and back-to-back Korea Cup wins in 2023 and 2024. Finishing as runners-up in the 2021 AFC Champions League, though, is starting to feel like a faint memory, and as for a K League title... It would be nice to see Pohang put together a strong, steady campaign that sees them challenging for the top spots, entertaining the possibility of a sixth K League title even if not quite pulling it off (yet).

Reason to Watch

Pohang's Steelyard is inarguably an important part of Korean football history, and arguably the best stadium in the K League. The Steelers are proud, gritty, and determined, like the city and fans they represent, and there's nowhere quite like the Blast Furnace when the team is on form. The squad comprises an eclectic mix of characters whose individual personalities are allowed to shine through both on- and off-pitch, but none of whom appear to dominate — Pohang is greater than the sum of its parts, and everyone knows it. Turn up or tune in to feel the passion of a club and fanbase that knows and respects its history.