South Korea is in Group A, alongside Mexico, South Africa and the Czech Republic
South Korea confirmed this Saturday (16) the 26 names that will compete in the 2026 World Cup. Coach Hong Myung-bo called up some well-known athletes, such as Heung-min Son from Los Angeles FC, Lee Kang-in from Paris Saint-Germain and Kim Min-jae from Bayern Munich.
A big highlight is the star Heung-min Son, who currently represents the colors of Los Angeles FC, but spent his career with Tottenham. At 33 years old, the attacking midfielder can compete in his last edition of the World Cup. He was in the squad in the 2014, 2018 and 2022 World Cups and scored three goals in all his appearances.
O The squad for this edition is mainly made up of athletes who play in European football. Only six play in South Korea, most notably the experienced goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo, 34, who is going to the third World Cup of his career. The team also has two players from Japan, one from China and one from the United Arab Emirates.
A South Korea is in Group A, alongside Mexico, South Africa and the Czech Republic. In the second game of the tournament, the team debuts against the Czechs, at the Akron Stadium, located in the Mexican city of Zapopan.
Check those selected
Goalkeepers
- Kim Seung-gyu (FC Tokyo);
- Song Burn-keun (Jeonbuk Motors);
- Jo Hyen-woo.
Defenders
- Kim Tae-hyeon (Kashima Antlers);
- Lee Han-beom (Central Jutland);
- Lee Tae-seok (Austria Wien);
- Seol Young-woo (Red Star);
- Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich).
Midfielders
- Jens Castrop (Borussia M’gladbach);
- Lee Jae-sung (Mainz);
- Lee Dong-gyeong (Ulsan Hyundai);
- Bae Jun-ho (Stoke City);
- Paik Seung-ho (Birmingham City);
- Kim Moon-hwan (Daejeon Hana Citizen);
- Kim Jin-gyu (Jeonbuk Motors);
- Park Jin-seob (Zhejiang FC).
Attackers
- Cho Gue-sung (Midtjylland);
- Oh Hyun-gyu (Besiktas);
- Heung-min Son (Los Angeles FC);
- Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton);
- Yang Hyun-jun (Celtic);
- Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain);
- Eom Ji-sung (Swansea City).
Korea’s World Cup performance
A South Korean team competes in the 11th consecutive World Cup and has not been absent since the 1982 editionheld in Spain. Furthermore, the team had its best performance in the 2002 World Cup, when it hosted the tournament alongside Japan. In a campaign marked by refereeing controversies, Korea finished in fourth place and ended up being eliminated by Germany, who would lose to Brazil in the big decision.
