South Korea World Cup 2026 squad: Hong Myung-bo's final 26-man selection

This image has been digitally altered.) Heung-Min Son #7 of Korea Republic poses for a portrait during the official FIFA World Cup 2026 portrait session on June 06, 2026 in Guadalajara, Mexico. — Son Heung-min is the undoubted star of South Korea (Image credit: Getty Images)

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Mood
Squad
Fixtures and results
Manager
Star player
Best XI

South Korea are set to embark in their 11th consecutive competition. In qualifying for World Cup 2026, the Taegeuk Warriors were unbeaten with six wins and four draws – and though they won't be favourites in North America this summer, by any stretch, they have one of the more experienced squads in the tournament and could be considered for the tournament dark horses moniker.

All-time record appearance-maker and talismanic captain Son Heung-min heads to the tournament knowing the climate well as a Major League Soccer player: he needs just four more goals to equal Cha Bum-kun's goal record, and could do so this summer.

Son is just one of a handful of huge figures from this side, though, with 35-year-old Kim Seung-gyu in goal, Bayern Munich stalwart Kin Min-jae leading the backline, and midfielder Lee Jae-sung having turned 33 and reached 100 caps, too.

Aside from Son's excellence in attack, Hwang Hee-chan will be recognisable to Premier League audiences, and Lee Kang-in is a dangerous forward: they're underdogs for sure, but there's no reason they can't turn back the clock and spring a shock on the world.

South Korea have surprised us all before, after all: 2002 was the adventure of a lifetime, when the co-hosts got all the way to the semi-finals (though with some controversial decisions along the way).

Now led by a legend of that side, Hong Myung-bo, back for a second shot as boss, this team will be looking to get out of a group with no obvious superstar side and see if how far they go this time.

Mood

That 2002 World Cup seems a long time ago… partly because it was. Several players in today’s squad weren’t born when Guus Hiddink led South Korea to the semi-finals. But it also feels far away because barely squeezing into Qatar 2022’s Round of 16 was as good as it’s got since.

After four wins across the team’s last five World Cups, confidence is lacking. Attendances have dipped in recent matches. Local Koreans might have provided great support had the Taeguk Warriors been playing in the US, but all three of their group games will be in Mexico.

Still, the draw taketh away but the draw also giveth. An open group gives them a chance.

Squad

South Korea World Cup 2026 squad: The final selection

GK: Kim Seung-gyu (FC Tokyo)
GK: Jo Hyeon-woo (Ulsan HD)
GK: Song Bum-keun (Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors)
DF: Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich)
DF: Kim Moon-hwan (Daejeon Hana Citizen)
DF: Seol Young-woo (Red Star Belgrade)
DF: Cho Wi-je (Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors)
DF: Lee Tae-seok (Austria Wien)
DF: Park Jin-seob (Zhejiang FC)
DF: Kim Tae-hyeon (Kashima Antlers)
DF: Lee Han-beom (Midtjylland)
DF: Jens Castrop (Borussia Monchengladbach)
DF: Lee Ki-hyuk (Gangwon FC)
MF: Lee Jae-sung (Mainz 05)
MF: Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
MF: Hwang In-beom (Feyenoord)
MF: Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain)
MF: Paik Seung-ho (Birmingham City)
MF: Kim Jin-gyu (Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors)
MF: Lee Dong-gyeong (Ulsan HD)
MF: Bae Jun-ho (Stoke City)
MF: Eom Ji-sung (Swansea City)
MF: Yang Hyun-jun (Celtic)
FW: Son Heung-min (Los Angeles FC)
FW: Cho Gue-sung (Midtjylland)
FW: Oh Hyeon-gyu (Besiktas)

Fixtures and results

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

Who is South Korea's manager?

South Korea's head coach Hong Myung-bo gives a press conference at the Guadalajara Stadium in Zapopan, Mexico on June 10, 2026, on the eve of the 2026 World Cup — Hong Myung-bo was the first Asian player ever to appear in four consecutive World Cups, playing in 1990, 1994, 1998 and 2002 (Image credit: Getty Images)

Hong Myung-bo comes with some serious pedigree. He became the first Asian player ever to appear in four consecutive World Cups, playing in 1990, 1994, 1998 and 2002.

In 2002, his final World Cup, he was captain on home soil as South Korea reached the semi-finals, eventually finishing fourth. He was named the third best player of the tournament, the first Asian to be named amongst the top players of a World Cup.

Pele, yes the Pele, named him in his FIFA 100, a list of the 125 best living players in 2004. (Yes, we know it doesn't quite add up, but we'll let it slide, it's Pele. Pele!)

Hong had a previous spell in charge of the national team, and unsuccessful campaign in the 2014 World Cup. His second spell has been more successful, with South Korea not losing a game in qualifying under his stewardship.

Star player

Who is South Korea's star player?

Heung-Min Son #7 of Korea Republic poses for a portrait during the official FIFA World Cup 2026 portrait session on June 06, 2026 in Guadalajara, Mexico. — Son is the most capped player for the South Korean national team, and is only four goals off being top scorer (Image credit: Getty Images)

His last season in England was underwhelming by his standards, but Son Heung-min is undoubtedly South Korea's star man. He is ranked at No.3 in FourFourTwo's list of the best Premier League wingers of all time, and ranked at No. 35 in FourFourTwo's list of the greatest Premier League players of all time.

Son is the most capped player for the South Korean national team, and is only four goals off being top scorer.

He is now backed by some exciting talents, with Kim Min-jae and Lee Kang-in playing regularly for Bayern Munich and South Korea, respectively. There's a chance they could be a dark horse heading to North America.

Best XI

TOPICS

John Duerden has covered Asian sport for over 20 years for The Guardian, Associated Press, ESPN, BBC, New York Times, as well as various Asian media. He is also the author of four books, including Rovers Revolution: Blackburn's Rise from Nowhere to Premier League Champions and Lions and Tigers: The Story of Football in Singapore and Malaysia.

South Korea squad World Cup 2026: Taeguk Warriors' 26-man squad take on Czechia in tournament opener