Ji So-yun eyes 200 caps before retirement, urges support for women's soccer

Korean midfielder Ji So-yun is considering retiring from international soccer after reaching 200 appearances, according to The Korea Times. The national team's record holder in appearances and goals also called for sustained investment and better conditions for younger players.

Ji's plans put the future of a player with 20 years of national team experience alongside a broader concern: whether Korean women's soccer can keep pace internationally. She identified infrastructure, investment and media attention as priorities for the sport's development.

The Korea Times, reporting on Ji's recent interview with Hankook Ilbo, said she holds Korean international records with 182 appearances and 76 goals. The 35-year-old Suwon FC Women midfielder and captain made her national team debut in 2006 at age 15.

Ji said she could reach the 200-appearance mark in 2027 or 2028. She described the 2027 Women's World Cup in Brazil as effectively her last World Cup, with participation dependent on her fitness and selection.

Ji won bronze at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, her sixth appearance at the event. She said Korea's 1-0 win over China was its first victory against that opponent since the 2015 EAFF East Asian Cup.

Beyond her playing career, Ji discussed mentoring younger teammates and publicly raising concerns about national team conditions. Ji, who is also president of the Korea Professional Football Players' Association, said she wanted younger players to have better training and competitive conditions than she had.

According to The Korea Times, Ji pointed to the English Football Association's five-year development plan as a source of lessons. She estimated that Korea could need at least 10 years to catch up with the development of women's soccer internationally.

Ji has not set a firm retirement date. Her stated aim is to end her international career on a high note while helping younger players compete in better circumstances.