South Korea have officially revealed their squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which could mark Son Heung-min’s final appearance on the global stage.
The Taegeuk Warriors will be making their 11th consecutive World Cup appearance, having gone unbeaten in the qualifying campaign with six wins and four draws. Although they are not among the favourites in North America this summer, they boast one of the most seasoned line-ups in the competition.
Record appearance holder and captain Son Heung-min leads the team into the tournament. Currently playing in Major League Soccer, Son is just four goals away from matching Cha Bum-kun’s all-time scoring record for South Korea, a milestone he could reach during the tournament.
The squad also features several experienced names including 35-year-old goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu, Bayern Munich’s defensive rock Kim Min-jae, and midfielder Lee Jae-sung, who recently turned 33 and earned his 100th cap.
Beyond Son’s attacking prowess, Premier League fans will be familiar with Hwang Hee-chan, while Lee Kang-in adds creativity and flair in attack. Although South Korea enter as underdogs, their experience and unity could help them cause surprises reminiscent of past tournaments.
Memories of the 2002 World Cup still linger, when South Korea, as co-hosts, famously reached the semi-finals amid some controversial moments. This time, with Hong Myung-bo—one of the heroes of that golden run—returning for his second stint as manager, the team is determined to progress deep into the tournament once again. Their group does not feature an obvious powerhouse, giving them a fair chance to advance.
Goalkeepers: Kim Seung-gyu (FC Tokyo), Jo Hyeon-woo (Ulsan HD), Song Bum-keun (Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors)
Defenders: Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich), Kim Moon-hwan (Daejeon Hana Citizen), Seol Young-woo (Red Star Belgrade), Cho Yu-min (Sharjah), Lee Tae-seok (Austria Wien), Park Jin-seob (Zhejiang FC), Kim Tae-hyeon (Kashima Antlers), Lee Han-beom (Midtjylland), Jens Castrop (Borussia Monchengladbach), Lee Ki-hyuk (Gangwon FC)
Midfielders: Lee Jae-sung (Mainz 05), Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Hwang In-beom (Feyenoord), Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain), Paik Seung-ho (Birmingham City), Kim Jin-gyu (Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors), Lee Dong-gyeong (Ulsan HD), Bae Jun-ho (Stoke City), Eom Ji-sung (Swansea City), Yang Hyun-jun (Celtic)
Forwards: Son Heung-min (Los Angeles FC), Cho Gue-sung (Midtjylland), Oh Hyeon-gyu (Besiktas)
Group Stage Fixtures:
June 12, 2026: South Korea vs Czechia, Estadio Akron, Zapopan, Mexico
June 19, 2026: Mexico vs South Korea, Estadio Akron, Zapopan, Mexico
June 24, 2026: South Africa vs South Korea, Estadio BBVA, Guadalupe, Mexico
Recent Results:
March 31, 2026: Austria 1-0 South Korea, Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria
March 28, 2026: South Korea 0-4 Ivory Coast, Seoul World Cup Stadium, Seoul
November 18, 2025: South Korea 1-0 Ghana, Jeju World Cup Stadium, Seogwipo
November 14, 2025: South Korea 2-0 Bolivia, Busan Asiad Main Stadium, Busan
October 14, 2025: South Korea 2-0 Paraguay, Daejeon World Cup Stadium, Daejeon
October 10, 2025: South Korea 0-5 Brazil, Seoul World Cup Stadium, Seoul
September 09, 2025: Mexico 1-1 South Korea, AT&T Stadium, Arlington, USA
September 06, 2025: United States 0-2 South Korea, Soldier Field, Chicago, USA
July 15, 2025: South Korea 0-1 Japan, Seoul World Cup Stadium, Seoul
July 11, 2025: Hong Kong 0-2 South Korea, Seoul World Cup Stadium, Seoul
July 07, 2025: South Korea 3-0 China, Seoul World Cup Stadium, Seoul
June 10, 2025: South Korea 4-0 Kuwait, Seoul World Cup Stadium, Seoul
June 05, 2025: Iraq 0-2 South Korea, Basra International Stadium, Basra
March 25, 2025: South Korea 1-1 Jordan, Seoul World Cup Stadium, Seoul
March 20, 2025: South Korea 1-1 Oman, Seoul World Cup Stadium, Seoul
Manager Hong Myung-bo brings immense experience to the role. He remains a national hero, having been the first Asian player to appear in four consecutive World Cups (1990, 1994, 1998, and 2002). In his final appearance in 2002, he captained South Korea to a fourth-place finish, earning recognition as the third-best player of the tournament—the first Asian ever to achieve that honour.
Legendary Brazilian footballer Pele included Hong in his ‘FIFA 100’ list of the 125 greatest living footballers in 2004. Although his first managerial tenure in 2014 ended in disappointment, his second stint has been far more successful, with South Korea remaining unbeaten through the qualification campaign under his leadership.
Despite an underwhelming final season in England, Son Heung-min remains the undisputed star of the team. Ranked No.3 on FourFourTwo’s list of the greatest Premier League wingers and No.35 among the best Premier League players of all time, Son’s legacy in Korean football is unmatched. As the nation’s most capped player and the second-highest all-time scorer, he enters the World Cup looking to further cement his place in history.
With key players like Kim Min-jae and Lee Kang-in in top form for Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain, respectively, South Korea have enough quality to be a potential dark horse in North America.
— Reported by Ewan Gennery, Freelance Writer
