Coupang Play's 'Next Legend' Faces Sunderland AFC Youth Team in Pivotal Match

Coupang Play's massive soccer survival show, 'Next Legend,' is set to face the youth team of Sunderland AFC, a prestigious British club with a 147-year history, in a crucial evaluation match. The preview and stills from episode 8 capture the excitement and fierce survival instincts of the young talents as they step onto the field, raising anticipation.

'Next Legend' is a real survival show where the next generation of promising South Korean soccer players compete fiercely for a chance to advance overseas.

The stills from episode 8, captured in the UK, the birthplace of soccer, highlight moments of excitement and tension for the 'Next Legend' team. The intense training scenes of top prospects like Lee Eun-ho, known as 'Korea's Lamine Yamal,' and others such as Lee Ye-jun, Kim Eun-sung, Lee Jae-hyung, and Oh Chang-hwan, draw attention. Particularly, the scene where a local scout analyzes the participants' profiles with a keen eye raises curiosity about who will be picked as the 'next Son Heung-min' by a European club.

The preview shows the 'Next Legend' team's dramatic challenge as they face Sunderland, a club founded in 1879 with two FA Cup wins and six English First Division titles. The mention of the 'Kick and Rush' style, a hallmark of British soccer, adds to the anticipation.

"I wanted to see if we could compete with world-class players," one participant optimistically remarks, but the 'Next Legend' team struggles against the physicality and pressure from Sunderland's youth team. The tension peaks as Kang Dong-hwi reacts to a provocation from an opponent, leading to a heated confrontation. Despite the challenges, the desire to win intensifies, heightening expectations.

Meanwhile, attention is focused on the one player who receives an official invitation for a tryout from the prestigious British club. As curiosity grows about who will receive the 'dream league' invitation handed to coach Lee Young-pyo, 'Next Legend' reaches a significant moment in its mission to discover the next global soccer star. Viewers who have followed the players' growth are moved, and anticipation builds for the journey of the 'last one standing.'

Episode 8 of 'Next Legend,' which brings the dream of entering the European leagues closer, will be released on March 13th at 4 PM on Coupang Play. Both Coupang Wow members and regular members can watch it for free.

Lee So-jung, Ten Asia Reporter forusojung@tenasia.co.kr