Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United are set to conclude their pre-season tours of Asia with a friendly clash at the Seoul World Cup Stadium on Sunday, August 3, 2025. While the match serves as crucial preparation for the upcoming Premier League season, all eyes are on Spurs captain Heung-min Son, who leads his team in his native South Korea in what could be his final appearance for the club.
Reports have emerged that Son, who captained Tottenham to their first trophy in 17 years with last season’s Europa League title, has expressed a desire to leave the club this summer. According to the Evening Standard, MLS side LAFC is the frontrunner for his signature, making this homecoming match a potentially emotional farewell for the beloved forward.
New Tottenham manager Thomas Frank has made seven changes to the side that secured a 1-0 victory over North London rivals Arsenal in Hong Kong a few days ago. As confirmed by Tottenham Hotspur’s official website, Son starts and captains the team, headlining a revamped front line alongside Brennan Johnson and Mathys Tel. In midfield, Archie Gray comes in for Lucas Bergvall, while the defence sees Kevin Danso and Ben Davies replace Micky van de Ven and Djed Spence.
Confirmed Lineups
Tottenham Hotspur XI: Kinsky; Porro, Danso, Romero, Davies; Bentancur, Gray, Sarr; Johnson, Tel, Son (c).
Substitutes: Vicario, Austin, Gunter, Spence, van de Ven, Byfield, Vuskovic, Abbott, Bissouma, Bergvall, Maddison, Donley, Yang, Odobert, Kudus, Richarlison, Lankshear.
Newcastle United XI: Pope; Trippier, Schar, Burn, Targett; Bruno Guimaraes, Miley, Joelinton; J.Murphy, Gordon, Barnes.
Substitutes: Vlachodimos, Ruddy, Max Thompson, Livramento, Krafth, Lascelles, A.Murphy, Tonali, Hernes, Harrison, Elanga, Park, Osula, Neave.
Spurs are looking to build on a solid pre-season under Frank as they prepare for a UEFA Super Cup final against Paris Saint-Germain on August 13. However, they remain without several key players due to injury, including Dominic Solanke, Destiny Udogie, Radu Dragusin, and Dejan Kulusevski.
Newcastle, meanwhile, are hoping to find form after a challenging pre-season that included a 3-2 loss to Arsenal and a 1-0 defeat to a K-League XI. As reported by The Independent, Eddie Howe’s side has faced a difficult transfer window, which has been further complicated by the uncertainty surrounding star striker Alexander Isak, who is absent from the tour amid speculation about his future. The Magpies are also contending with potential injuries to Lewis Hall, Sven Botman, and Joe Willock.
The match, which kicks off at 12pm BST, will not be broadcast on traditional television in the UK. Fans can stream the game live via the clubs’ respective streaming services, SPURSPLAY and NUFC TV. For viewers in the United States, the friendly will be available on Paramount+ and the CBS Sports Network.
Following this encounter, Tottenham will travel to Germany to face Bayern Munich on August 7 in their final pre-season fixture. Newcastle will return to St. James’ Park to host back-to-back friendlies against Espanyol on August 8 and Atletico Madrid on August 9.
