South Korea have named their 26-man squad ahead of the 2026 World Cup, with a deep run in the tournament being the goal.
Hong Myung-bo is looking to position his squad for success this summer and the 26-man squad named by the head coach looks promising ahead of the tournament.
English football fans will be familiar with some of the names in the squad, with ex-Tottenham Hotspur Son Heung-min selected as well as Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Hwang Hee-chan and EFL trio Paik Seung-ho, Bae Jun-ho and Eom Ji-sung.
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South Korea World Cup 2026 squad
| Squad number | Player | Position | Domestic club | International caps | International goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kim Seung-gyu | GK | FC Tokyo (Japan) | 85 | 0 |
| 21 | Jo Hyeon-woo | GK | Ulsan HD (South Korea) | 47 | 0 |
| 12 | Song Bum-keun | GK | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (South Korea) | 2 | 0 |
| 4 | Kim Min-jae | DF | Bayern Munich (Germany) | 77 | 4 |
| 15 | Kim Moon-hwan | DF | Daejeon Hana Citizen (South Korea) | 34 | 0 |
| 22 | Seol Young-woo | DF | Red Star Belgrade (Serbia) | 32 | 0 |
| 13 | Lee Tae-seok | DF | Austria Wien (Austria) | 14 | 1 |
| 16 | Park Jin-seob | DF | Zhejiang FC (China) | 12 | 1 |
| 5 | Kim Tae-hyeon | DF | Kashima Antlers (Japan) | 7 | 0 |
| 2 | Lee Han-beom | DF | Midtjylland (Denmark) | 6 | 0 |
| 23 | Jens Castrop | DF | Borussia Monchengladbach (Germany) | 5 | 0 |
| 3 | Lee Ki-hyuk | DF | Gangwon FC (South Korea) | 1 | 0 |
| 14 | Cho Wi-je | DF | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (South Korea) | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | Lee Jae-sung | MF | Mainz (Germany) | 103 | 15 |
| 6 | Hwang In-beom | MF | Feyenoord (Netherlands) | 71 | 6 |
| 19 | Lee Kang-in | MF | PSG (France) | 46 | 11 |
| 8 | Paik Seung-ho | MF | Birmingham City (England) | 25 | 3 |
| 24 | Kim Jin-gyu | MF | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (South Korea) | 20 | 3 |
| 26 | Lee Dong-gyeong | MF | Ulsan HD (South Korea) | 16 | 3 |
| 17 | Bae Jun-ho | MF | Stoke City (England) | 12 | 2 |
| 25 | Eom Ji-sung | MF | Swansea City (England) | 8 | 2 |
| 20 | Yang Hyun-jun | MF | Celtic (Scotland) | 8 | 0 |
| 7 | Son Heung-min | FW | Los Angeles FC (United States) | 142 | 54 |
| 11 | Hwang Hee-chan | FW | Wolverhampton Wanderers (England) | 77 | 16 |
| 9 | Cho Gue-sung | FW | Midtjylland (Denmark) | 42 | 10 |
| 18 | Oh Hyeon-gyu | FW | Besiktas (Turkey) | 26 | 6 |
South Korea enter the 2026 World Cup as formidable dark horses, blending elite European experience with emerging domestic talent. Head coach Hong Myung-bo’s 26-man squad is anchored by their talismanic captain, Son Heung-min, who brings an unparalleled pedigree. Now plying his trade at LAFC, Son boasts 140 international caps and 54 goals, and is poised to break the national record for World Cup goals.
The squad’s spine is heavily reliant on top-tier European metrics. Bayern Munich’s Kim Min-jae marshals the defence, bringing elite interception and progressive passing stats from the Bundesliga. In midfield, Paris Saint-Germain’s Lee Kang-in provides crucial creative output, having recorded three goals and four assists in 18 Ligue 1 starts this season.
South Korea’s dark horse status is statistically supported by their balanced group stage draw against Mexico, Czech Republic, and South Africa. The integration of young forwards like Oh Hyeon-gyu (eight goals in 15 matches for Besiktas) and Yang Hyun-jun (10 goals for Celtic) adds vital attacking depth. With a squad boasting significant Champions League experience and a proven track record of outperforming Expected Goals in major tournaments, the Taegeuk Warriors are statistically primed to disrupt the knockout stages.
- Read more: South Korea World Cup 2026 odds
Three players to look out for this summer
Son Heung-min (Los Angeles FC)
Son Heung-min remains South Korea’s ultimate statistical outlier and the definitive player to watch at the 2026 World Cup. Now operating at LAFC, the 33-year-old captain boasts an elite international pedigree with 140 caps and 54 goals.
Crucially, Son is a proven tournament performer. He currently holds the joint national record for World Cup goals (three) and requires just one more to equal the all-time Asian record. His underlying metrics – including a historic Premier League Golden Boot (23 non-penalty goals) and exceptional two-footed finishing efficiency – highlight a player capable of converting low-xG chances. As South Korea navigates Group A, Son’s clinical final-third output and unmatched transitional speed will be the decisive data points in their quest for the knockout stages.
Lee Kang-in (PSG)
Lee Kang-in is the creative engine driving South Korea’s 2026 World Cup ambitions. The 25-year-old Paris Saint-Germain midfielder brings elite playmaking metrics to the international stage, having recorded 11 goals in 46 caps for his country.
Lee’s statistical profile highlights his exceptional ball progression and chance creation. During the 2023 Asian Cup, he led the tournament in key passes and successful crosses, underlining his vital role in the final third. Domestically, he has secured three consecutive Ligue 1 titles with PSG, contributing 12 goals across 79 league appearances. As South Korea looks to break down group-stage opponents, Lee’s proven ability to deliver high-xG assists and convert set-pieces makes him an indispensable asset and a premier player to watch.
Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich)
Kim Min-jae is the defensive bedrock of South Korea’s 2026 World Cup squad and a crucial player to watch. The 29-year-old Bayern Munich centre-back brings elite European pedigree, having secured consecutive Bundesliga titles in 2024–25 and 2025–26, following his historic Serie A triumph with Napoli.
Internationally, Kim has amassed 77 caps and four goals, providing vital experience from the 2022 World Cup and multiple Asian Cup campaigns. His statistical profile is defined by exceptional defensive stability, elite interception rates, and progressive passing from the back. As South Korea faces a competitive Group A, Kim’s ability to marshal the defence and initiate transitions will be the foundational metric determining their success in the tournament.
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South Korea World Cup 2026 fixtures
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