With Ulsan having been crowned the K League 1 champions of the 2024 season early, soccer fans’ eyes are now turning to their rivals in the ‘stay up or go down’ battle.

The 37th round of the Hana Bank K League 1 2024 will be held this weekend, starting with the match between Suwon FC and Gangwon on the 9th.

Last weekend’s K League 1 Round 36 saw Ulsan defeat Gangwon to clinch the title early and become the first club to win three consecutive 토토사이트 모음 K League 1 titles.

While the championship race is over, all that remains to be seen is who will qualify for the 2025-2026 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League, who will stay in K League 1, and who will be relegated.

The K League has been allotted 2+1 spots for the 2025-26 AFC Champions League (two ACLE spots, one PO spot) and one spot in the ACL2, the lower tier of the competition.

This season’s K League 1 champions Ulsan claimed one ACLE spot, but the remaining ACL spots will be decided after the Korea Cup final later this month and the winners of the 2024-25 ACLE and ACL2, which concludes next May.

Even more competitive than the ACL berths is the Final Round B, which is expected to be even more competitive. Four teams in ninth through 12th place are screaming “You go, part two” as they fight to avoid direct relegation.

K League soccer fans are particularly interested in the outcome of the 37th round match between 11th-ranked Jeonbuk and 12th-ranked Incheon. Jeonbuk (38 points) and Incheon (36 points) are separated by just two points. The two teams played to a 0-0 draw in the 36th round.

As things stand, Jeonbuk has an 11-goal advantage over Incheon on goal difference and can avoid direct relegation on their own with a win and a draw. However, their Round 37 opponents, Daegu, have a 1-1-2 record this season.

A loss for the bottom-placed Incheon in this round and a win for 11th-placed Jeonbuk would seal their relegation regardless of the final match result, so Incheon will need to score as many goals as possible in their remaining two matches to secure a win and then see how the other teams fare.

The fact that their opponent in the 37th round is Daejeon, a team they have dominated in their last 10 matches with eight wins, one draw, and one loss, and that they are playing at home should give Incheon some hope.

Hana Bank K League 1 2024 37th Round Schedule

Suwon FC-Gangwon FC (Sept. 9, 4:30 p.m., Suwon Stadium)

Pohang Steelers-Gimcheon Sangmu (Oct. 10, 2 p.m., Pohang Steel Yard)

FC Seoul-Ulsan HD (Oct. 10, 2 p.m., Seoul World Cup Stadium)

Jeju United-Gwangju FC (4:30 p.m., Oct. 10 at Jeju World Cup Stadium)

Jeonbuk Hyundai-Daejeon FC (4:30 p.m., Jeonju World Cup Stadium)

Incheon United-Daejeon Hana Citizens (4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Incheon Football Stadium)