Head coach Hong Myung-bo named South Korea’s 26-man World Cup squad on May 16, 2026, with Son Heung-min confirmed as captain for his fourth FIFA World Cup. A brace in the 5-0 pre-tournament win over Trinidad and Tobago on May 30 took Son to 56 international goals, leaving him just two short of Cha Bum-kun’s all-time South Korea record of 58. The 33-year-old now carries that scoring chase into Group A alongside Mexico, South Africa, and Czechia.
The South Korea World Cup Squad 2026 draws real European depth. Kim Min-jae anchors the defence from Bayern Munich, Lee Kang-in operates at Paris Saint-Germain, and Hwang Hee-chan adds Premier League threat from Wolverhampton Wanderers. South Korea qualified unbeaten through the AFC third round, six wins and four draws across 10 matches. Ranked 25th by FIFA as of April 1, 2026, this is their 12th World Cup overall.
This is your full South Korea squad list, schedule, and key player breakdown for the 2026 tournament.
South Korea 26-Player Squad for World Cup 2026
| Position | Player | Club |
|---|---|---|
| GK | Kim Seung-gyu | FC Tokyo (Japan) |
| GK | Jo Hyeon-woo | Ulsan HD (South Korea) |
| GK | Song Bum-keun | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (South Korea) |
| DF | Kim Min-jae | Bayern Munich (Germany) |
| DF | Kim Moon-hwan | Daejeon Hana Citizen (South Korea) |
| DF | Seol Young-woo | Red Star Belgrade (Serbia) |
| DF | Cho Yu-min | Sharjah (UAE) |
| DF | Lee Tae-seok | Austria Wien (Austria) |
| DF | Park Jin-seob | Zhejiang FC (China) |
| DF | Kim Tae-hyeon | Kashima Antlers (Japan) |
| DF | Lee Han-beom | FC Midtjylland (Denmark) |
| DF | Jens Castrop | Borussia Mönchengladbach (Germany) |
| DF | Lee Ki-hyuk | Gangwon FC (South Korea) |
| MF | Lee Jae-sung | Mainz 05 (Germany) |
| MF | Hwang Hee-chan | Wolverhampton Wanderers (England) |
| MF | Hwang In-beom | Feyenoord (Netherlands) |
| MF | Lee Kang-in | Paris Saint-Germain (France) |
| MF | Paik Seung-ho | Birmingham City (England) |
| MF | Kim Jin-gyu | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (South Korea) |
| MF | Lee Dong-gyeong | Ulsan HD (South Korea) |
| MF | Bae Jun-ho | Stoke City (England) |
| MF | Eom Ji-sung | Swansea City (Wales) |
| MF | Yang Hyun-jun | Celtic (Scotland) |
| FW | Son Heung-min (C) | Los Angeles FC (USA) |
| FW | Cho Gue-sung | FC Midtjylland (Denmark) |
| FW | Oh Hyeon-gyu | Besiktas (Türkiye) |
For all 48 team announcement dates, see our World Cup 2026 squads tracker.
Quick Stats
Here’s a breakdown of the key numbers behind Hong Myung-bo’s South Korea World Cup Squad 2026.
- Most-capped player: Son Heung-min (144 caps)
- Top scorer in the squad: Son Heung-min (56 international goals)
- Premier League players: 1 (Hwang Hee-chan, Wolverhampton Wanderers)
- Bundesliga players: 3 (Kim Min-jae at Bayern Munich, Lee Jae-sung at Mainz 05, Jens Castrop at Borussia Mönchengladbach)
- K-League players: 6 (Jo Hyeon-woo, Lee Dong-gyeong, Song Bum-keun, Kim Jin-gyu, Kim Moon-hwan, Lee Ki-hyuk)
- Oldest player: Kim Seung-gyu (35)
- Youngest outfield player: Jens Castrop (22)
Key Players to Watch
Son Heung-min (C) | Los Angeles FC
Son captains South Korea at 33 with 144 caps, the national record. A brace against Trinidad and Tobago on May 30 took his total to 56 international goals, leaving him two from equalling and three from breaking Cha Bum-kun’s all-time South Korea scoring record of 58. After ten years at Tottenham Hotspur, he moved to LAFC and stayed at his international peak.
Kim Min-jae | Bayern Munich
Kim Min-jae is South Korea’s defensive cornerstone. The 29-year-old centre-back has built a reputation as one of Europe’s elite defenders across stints at Napoli and Bayern Munich. He commands the back line, reads danger early, and wins headers consistently. Without Kim Min-jae operating at full capacity, South Korea’s defensive structure falls apart under sustained pressure.
Lee Kang-in | Paris Saint-Germain
Lee Kang-in is South Korea’s chief creative threat behind Son. A technically precise attacking midfielder at PSG, he picks passes through tight lines, drives forward from deep, and produces direct actions that unlock defences. His ability to drift between positions makes him the most unpredictable player in Hong Myung-bo’s attacking unit.
Hwang Hee-chan | Wolverhampton Wanderers
Hwang Hee-chan provides South Korea with a second scoring threat. Listed as a midfielder but deployed in advanced roles, he combines pressing intensity with a genuine end product from range. When Son draws a defender’s extra focus, Hwang’s movement into the channels is where South Korea will find goals in this group.
Hwang In-beom | Feyenoord
Hwang In-beom orchestrates from deep in Hong Myung-bo’s double pivot. At Feyenoord, he has become a composed central midfielder who reads the game and distributes cleanly under pressure. He shields the defence and triggers the transitions that let Lee Kang-in and Son attack. His partnership with Paik Seung-ho is the engine behind South Korea’s possession game.
South Korea World Cup 2026 Schedule
South Korea play all three group matches in Mexico. Kick-off times are listed in Eastern Time (ET) and Korea Standard Time (KST) for fans watching at home.
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Kickoff (ET) | Kickoff (KST) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 11, 2026 | vs Czechia | Guadalajara Stadium (Estadio Akron), Guadalajara | 10:00 PM | Jun 12, 11:00 AM |
| Jun 18, 2026 | vs Mexico | Guadalajara Stadium (Estadio Akron), Guadalajara | 9:00 PM | Jun 19, 10:00 AM |
| Jun 24, 2026 | vs South Africa | Monterrey Stadium (Estadio BBVA), Monterrey | 9:00 PM | Jun 25, 10:00 AM |
South Korea’s pre-tournament camp is in the Salt Lake City area of Utah. They closed their preparations with a 5-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago on May 30 in Provo, Utah, with Son Heung-min scoring twice. For all knockout-stage dates and times, see the full 2026 World Cup schedule.
How South Korea Qualified for World Cup 2026
South Korea competed in the AFC third round Group B alongside Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, and Palestine. They played 10 matches and finished with six wins and four draws, dropping no points from any game. South Korea were the only Asian side to complete the entire third-round qualifying stage without a single defeat, a record that reflects the defensive discipline Hong Myung-bo installed from the start of his second spell.
The decisive moment arrived on June 5, 2025, when South Korea beat Iraq 2-0 away from home to seal their place at the tournament. They closed out the AFC qualifying campaign with a 4-0 demolition of Kuwait on June 10, finishing the group stage on a high note. South Korea conceded just two goals in their final five qualifying matches.
Pre-tournament results showed real limits. South Korea beat the United States 2-0 in September 2025 but lost 0-4 to Ivory Coast and 1-0 to Austria in March 2026. The 1-1 draw with Mexico in September keeps the opening group fixture in perspective.
Head Coach: Hong Myung-bo
Hong Myung-bo returned to the South Korea head coach role in July 2024, his second stint after previously managing the national side at Brazil 2014, where he replaced Jürgen Klinsmann. As a player, he’s one of Asian football’s all-time figures. He was the first Asian to appear in four consecutive World Cups (1990, 1994, 1998, 2002), captained South Korea to fourth place in 2002, and was named the third-best player of that tournament by FIFA.
His first coaching stint ended after a group-stage exit in Brazil 2014, but his second spell has produced far better results. South Korea went unbeaten through the entire AFC third round under his leadership. Hong’s preferred system is the 4-2-3-1, pairing Hwang In-beom and Paik Seung-ho as a double pivot beneath a creative three of Son, Lee Kang-in, and Lee Jae-sung. Ahead of North America, he trialled a 3-4-2-1 to add defensive compactness, though the attacking shape stayed largely consistent across both setups.
Group A at a Glance
South Korea are in Group A. Here’s how each team compares heading into the tournament.
| Team | FIFA Ranking | WC Appearances (pre-2026) | Best Finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico | 15th | 17 (1930–2022) | Quarterfinals (1970, 1986) |
| South Africa | 60th | 3 (1998–2010) | Group stage |
| South Korea | 25th | 11 (1954–2022) | Fourth place (2002) |
| Czechia | 41st | 9 (incl. Czechoslovakia era) | Runner-up (1934, 1962) |
FIFA rankings are from the April 1, 2026 official update. WC appearances are pre-2026 figures only.
Mexico is the group’s main obstacle. They beat South Korea 3-1 in 1998 and 2-1 in 2018, and all three Group A matches are on Mexican soil. South Africa have never advanced past the group stage, including a historic failure as 2010 hosts. Czechia scraped through a European playoff in March 2026 and have zero competitive history with South Korea. For the full group breakdown, visit the 2026 World Cup groups hub.
FAQ About South Korea World Cup Squad 2026
What is South Korea’s nickname at the 2026 World Cup?
South Korea’s national football team is known as the Taegeuk Warriors. The name comes from the taeguk symbol on the South Korean national flag, representing the balance of opposing forces. South Korea’s red home kit has been one of international football’s most recognisable since the 2002 tournament they co-hosted with Japan.
What formation does Hong Myung-bo use with South Korea?
Hong used a 4-2-3-1 throughout South Korea’s unbeaten AFC qualifying campaign, with Hwang In-beom and Paik Seung-ho as the double pivot. Ahead of the World Cup he trialled a 3-4-2-1 to add defensive structure. Son Heung-min’s advanced role and the midfield core remain consistent across both systems.
Has South Korea ever beaten Mexico at a World Cup?
No. Mexico beat South Korea 3-1 in the 1998 group stage in France and 2-1 in the 2018 group stage in Russia. Their most recent meeting was a 1-1 draw in a September 2025 friendly in the United States. South Korea’s June 18 clash in Guadalajara is their third World Cup meeting with Mexico.
Has South Korea ever faced Czechia in a competitive match?
No. South Korea and Czech Republic have met only once, a 2-1 Czech win in a 2000 friendly. The Group A opener on June 11 in Guadalajara is the first competitive fixture between the two nations.
How many K-League players are in South Korea’s 2026 World Cup squad?
Six domestic-based players made Hong Myung-bo’s final selection: Jo Hyeon-woo and Lee Dong-gyeong (both Ulsan HD), Song Bum-keun and Kim Jin-gyu (Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors), Kim Moon-hwan (Daejeon Hana Citizen), and Lee Ki-hyuk (Gangwon FC). The rest of the squad plays across Europe, Japan, and MLS.
South Korea’s World Cup 2026 Hopes
The South Korea World Cup Squad 2026 is experienced, European-heavy, and built around a captain chasing history. Son Heung-min at his fourth World Cup, Kim Min-jae at Bayern Munich, and Lee Kang-in at PSG gives this squad genuine quality across positions. All three group games are in Mexico, which hands the hosts a crowd advantage South Korea can’t match. They drew 1-1 with Mexico and beat the United States 2-0 in September 2025, though. They can compete.
South Korea’s realistic target is the round of 32. Wins or draws against Czechia and South Africa could get them there without needing a result against Mexico. If Son finds the three goals to break Cha Bum-kun’s all-time record and Hong Myung-bo’s defensive structure holds under pressure, this squad could match the 2022 run to the knockout stage. A quarterfinal feels beyond them, but getting out of the group stage doesn’t.
