South Korea World Cup 2026 team guide

This article is part of the Guardian’s 2026 World Cup Experts’ Network, a cooperation between some of the best media organisations from the 48 countries who qualified. theguardian.com is running previews from three countries each day in the run-up to the tournament kicking off on 11 June.

The plan

Hong Myung-bo stuck rigidly to a back four throughout the qualifiers, pivoting to a back three only in the second half of the final match after South Korea’s spot in the finals had been secured. This tactical shift, appearing only after the heavy lifting had been done, leaves the team grappling with a desperate lack of preparation time and cohesion if they are to start the tournament in a 3-4-3.

One of the problems with that formation is the lack of wing-backs capable of producing high-level performances. This scarcity of options is why so much intrigue surrounds Borussia Mönchengladbach’s Jens Castrop and where he will play; his versatility means he can be deployed centrally or out wide – that could make him the ultimate wildcard in North America.

Hong tried to dispel the nervousness surrounding his formation in a recent interview with KBS. “It’s difficult to rely on just one tactical approach and I have experience of that,” he said. “There’s about a six-day break after the first match so we can assess the strength of our next opponent and adapt our formation to approach the game in different ways.”

Adding to the anxiety is the precarious state of the team’s spine; key figures such as Son Heung-min, Kim Min-jae, Lee Kang-in, Lee Jae-sung and Hwang In-beom are all battling a cocktail of injuries, erratic club form and even being relegated to the bench.

The situation is particularly dire in central midfield, where a string of injuries have ruled out several candidates. In addition, Hwang has spent much of the season struggling to find his rhythm after suffering recurring physical setbacks.

Strong in qualifying, South Korea did not lose any of their 16 matches, finishing six points ahead of Jordan in the second group stage. There are hopes of getting out of a group that consists of the co-hosts Mexico, South Africa and Czechia. “Our first goal is to advance to the round of 32. After that, anything could happen,” says Hong.

The coach

South Korea’s Qatar 2022 campaign was defined by an admirable brand of football, holding their own against Uruguay and orchestrating a dramatic victory over Portugal to reach the knockout rounds. However, the subsequent era has been one of administrative chaos. The appointment of Jürgen Klinsmann by the KFA president ended in complete failure, the German lasting less than a year. His successor, Hong Myung-bo, then started with a whirlwind of selection controversies. Hong is one of the country’s greatest footballing figures, but he operates without the vital oxygen of media or public support. He has already been in charge for a World Cup, in 2014, which ended without a win. Can he exorcise those ghosts in North America? The outlook, quite frankly, remains bleak.

Star player

Son Heung-min is one of South Korea’s stars but he has struggled at LAFC recently. Photograph: Christian Bruna/Getty Images

Son Heung-min. Sonny, Sonny, Sonny. There is perhaps no figure in the history of South Korean sport more universally adored. His achievements – a Premier League Golden Boot and captaining a Europa League-winning side among them – are those of a generational talent who has consistently produced for the national team. Yet, for all his individual brilliance, a major international trophy remains absent. That won’t change in North America, but the country still waits to see if he can shed his recent troubles at LAFC and find redemption on the world stage once more.

One to watch

Oh Hyeon-gyu. If 2022 was the year of Cho Gue-sung, 2026 surely belongs to Oh. Last year, he was set to join Stuttgart for £24m, but the Bundesliga club pulled out because of concerns over an old knee injury. “I have not had any problems with my knees since high school,” said the former Celtic striker who joined Besiktas in January instead. Oh has maintained a rich vein of form in Turkey, positioning himself as a formidable challenger to Son for the starting striker role.

Unsung hero

Lee Jae-sung. To label a player with more than 100 caps as an unsung hero may seem a contradiction, but Lee’s immense contribution to the Taeguk Warriors has often been overshadowed by more glamorous names. Regardless of who holds the clipboard, Lee is a permanent fixture on the teamsheet – a tenacious, cerebral presence who balances attacking flair with defensive grit. Having only recently returned from a lengthy injury layoff, the 33-year-old is preparing to ignite one final flame alongside his lifelong peer, Son.

Probable starting XI

Illustration: Guardian

What to expect from the fans

Mexico remains a world away, not just geographically, but emotionally. Despite the staggering popularity of BTS across the region, the likelihood of South Korean fans making the arduous pilgrimage is slim. This reluctance isn’t merely a matter of distance; it is a reflection of a fractured relationship. Neither the KFA nor Hong are able to inspire the kind of devotion required for such a journey.

Relationship with the US/Trump

In his first term as president, Trump often talked about Korea. His pursuit of a Nobel peace prize made him surprisingly amicable toward the then-leaders of the North and South, earning him a peculiar brand of popularity in Seoul. His second term, however, has struck a different chord. A public once intrigued is now fatigued by a tenure defined by tariffs and erratic foreign policy. Reports suggesting his administration pushed for Italy to replace Iran in the World Cup have only cemented his image as a reckless disruptor in the eyes of the Korean public.

Written by Seo Hyung-wook for Footballist