South Korea at the 2026 FIFA World Cup: Preview, Key Players and all you need to know

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South Korea at the 2026 FIFA World Cup: Preview, Key Players and all you need to know
Friendly football match South Korea vs Ghana - 20251118 SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA, NOV 18: Son Heung-min of South Korea National Football Team during the friendly football match match between South Korea National Football Team and Ghana National Football Team at the Seoul World Cup Stadium in Seoul, South Korea on November 18, 2025. Editorial Use Only Seoul the Seoul World Cup Stadium South Korea 8240_285866 Copyright: xSeokyongxLee/PentaxPressx

South Korea has qualified for 11 consecutive World Cups, a streak dating back to 1986. Their greatest achievement came in 2002, when co-hosting alongside Japan they reached the semifinals and finished fourth.

Beyond the global stage, the Taegeuk Warriors have also impressed in the AFC Asian Cup, reaching the knockout rounds consistently and finishing as runners-up on four occasions.

Heading into 2026, the squad blends European-based stars with standout talent from the domestic K League.

How They Qualified

South Korea booked their ticket to the finals by finishing in the top two of Group B during the third round of AFC qualifying. A decisive 2-0 away victory over Iraq sealed their place with a game to spare.

Group Stage Fixtures (Group A)

  • June 11: vs. UEFA Playoff D (Czechia, Republic of Ireland, Denmark, North Macedonia) – Guadalajara Stadium, Zapopan, Mexico (10 p.m. ET)
  • June 18: vs. Mexico – Guadalajara Stadium, Zapopan, Mexico (9 p.m. ET)
  • June 24: vs. South Africa – Monterrey Stadium, Guadalupe, Mexico (9 p.m. ET)

Group A Teams: Mexico, South Korea, South Africa, UEFA Playoff D

 Previous World Cup Appearances

1954, 1986, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022

Best Finish: 2002 — Fourth place (Semifinals)

Key Players to Watch

  • Son Heung-min: Captain, forward, and South Korea’s most decorated player abroad. With 141 caps, three prior World Cups, and a Premier League Golden Boot (2021–22), Son has scored over 170 goals in England and remains the team’s talisman.
  • Kim Min-jae: Commanding center-back for Bayern Munich. With 75 caps, he starred at the 2022 World Cup, won Serie A with Napoli, and was named Serie A Best Defender before moving to Germany.
  • Lee Kang-in: Creative midfielder at Paris Saint-Germain. Since debuting in 2019, he has earned 44 caps, featured at the 2022 World Cup, and won the Golden Ball at the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup.

 Manager

Hong Myung-bo returned as head coach in 2023. A legendary figure with 136 caps and four World Cup appearances as a player, he won the Bronze Ball in 2002. Before his current tenure, he led Ulsan Hyundai to domestic titles and continental success. Under his guidance, South Korea secured direct qualification for 2026.

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Hong Myung-bo L, head coach of the South Korean and captain Son Heung-min © IMAGO

 Records & Legacy

  • All-Time Leading Scorer: Cha Bum-kun – 58 goals (Eintracht Frankfurt, Bayer Leverkusen)
  • All-Time Caps Leader: Son Heung-min – 141 appearances (active; currently with LAFC)
    • Needs just five more goals to surpass Cha Bum-kun as South Korea’s top scorer.

Team Nickname

Taegeuk Warriors

About the Country

Capital: Seoul

Population: ~51.6 million

<!-- Author Start -->Joel Oliver<!-- Author End -->

Joel Oliver

Author

Joel Oliver is a seasoned multimedia sports journalist with a rich background in covering diverse football stories and events in South Africa and beyond.
His extensive coverage spans subjects touching on the PSL, with a focus on the Big Three (Orlando Pirates, Kaizer Chiefs & Mamelodi Sundowns), Bafana Bafana and Banyana Banyana.

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