Last updated: August 2026
Quick answer: Manchester City won both of its 2026 Coupang Play Series matches at Seoul World Cup Stadium — beating the K League All-Stars 3-1 on Wednesday, August 5, then beating Atlético Madrid 3-1 on Sunday, August 9 in front of roughly 50,000 fans, with Atlético’s Lee Kang-in making his club debut in the loss. Here’s how both matches played out, plus what the series is and how to get to Seoul World Cup Stadium if a future edition brings it back around.
Table of Contents
- What Is the Coupang Play Series?
- What Were the Final Results?
- Why This Matchup Was a Bigger Deal Than a Normal Friendly
- How Do I Get to Seoul World Cup Stadium?
- Where to Stay Near Seoul World Cup Stadium
What Is the Coupang Play Series?
The Coupang Play Series is Korea’s summer pre-season football festival, organized by streaming platform Coupang Play together with sports promoter Pitch International. First launched in 2022, 2026 marks its fifth edition, and the format has stayed consistent: bring in a marquee European club for a short Seoul stop, and pair it with a match against a K League All-Star selection so domestic fans get to see their own league’s best players share a pitch with a Champions League-level squad, according to coverage from Manchester City’s official site. This year’s edition brings both Manchester City and Atlético Madrid to Seoul as part of their pre-season Asia tours, giving the city two high-profile matches in the space of four days.
What Were the Final Results?
| Matchup | Date | Result | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| K League All-Stars vs. Manchester City | Wednesday, August 5, 2026 | 1-3 (City) | Seoul World Cup Stadium |
| Manchester City vs. Atlético Madrid | Sunday, August 9, 2026 | 3-1 (City) | Seoul World Cup Stadium |
Manchester City won both fixtures. In the August 5 opener — new manager Enzo Maresca’s first match in charge — Rayan Aït-Nouri opened the scoring, Kim Dae-won equalized for the K League All-Stars, and Tijjani Reijnders and Divin Mubama put the result beyond doubt, all inside the first half. Four days later, Atlético Madrid’s Jorge Domínguez put Atlético ahead just before halftime — with new signing Lee Kang-in making his club debut — before Omar Marmoush scored twice and Aït-Nouri added a third to seal a 3-1 City win in front of roughly 50,000 fans at Seoul World Cup Stadium, per The Korea Times’ match report.
Why This Matchup Was a Bigger Deal Than a Normal Friendly
Two things made this year’s edition stand out. First, the Atlético Madrid fixture was a direct rematch of Manchester City’s 2023 Seoul friendly against the same club, which sold out — and the August 9 crowd of roughly 50,000 backed that up. Second, the series leaned into K-pop crossover the way recent K League and international friendlies in Seoul have: girl group RESCENE performed a halftime show at the Atlético Madrid match, giving the evening a dual football-and-K-pop draw that’s become a signature of Coupang Play Series events. For visitors chasing both interests on a Seoul trip, the August 2026 K-pop concerts guide rounds out what else was on stage in the city that same month.
How Do I Get to Seoul World Cup Stadium?
The stadium sits directly on Seoul Subway Line 6, at World Cup Stadium Station — exit the station and the stadium gates are a short walk away, so no bus transfer is needed from most parts of the city. If you’re coming from the airport, the Airport Railroad (AREX) and Gyeongui-Jungang Line both stop at nearby Digital Media City (DMC) Station, one stop from the stadium on Line 6. The Seoul transport guide covers T-money cards and how the subway system works if this is your first time riding it, and the Incheon Airport to Seoul guide breaks down the AREX route in more detail.
Where to Stay Near Seoul World Cup Stadium
Hotel supply directly around Sangam-dong is limited compared to central Seoul, so most visitors base themselves along Line 6 or in a more central neighborhood with a direct ride to the stadium — Hongdae and Sinchon are both a quick hop away and have far more rooms to choose from. That’s worth keeping in mind for future editions of the series or any other match at the stadium: rooms near the venue tend to fill up fast once a marquee fixture is announced. You can check hotel availability in Seoul🏨 or compare rooms near Hongdae and the Line 6 corridor🏨. The where to stay in Seoul guide breaks down every neighborhood by vibe and subway access if you’re weighing more options.
If a future edition of the series brings you to Seoul, it’s worth comparing current flight fares to Seoul✈️ as part of planning the trip.
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