7 new members selected, including ‘German faction’ Jung Woo-young and Lee Hyun-joo
World Cup 3rd qualifier against Kuwait on the 14th and Palestine on the 19th
Son Heung-min (Tottenham), who returned to the field after recovering from a thigh injury, wears the Taegeuk symbol for the first time in two months. Jung Woo-young (Union Berlin) and Kwon Gyeong-won (Korfakkan) were also named to Hong Myung-boho’s call-up list for the two-game international trip to the Middle East in November. In addition to ‘Lee Eul-yong’s son’ Lee Tae-seok (Pohang Steelers), Lee Hyun-joo (Hannover) and Kim Bong-soo (Gimcheon) ) and Kim Gyeong-min (Gwangju) were selected to the national team for the first time.
Coach Hong Myung-bo held a press conference at the Shinmun-ro Soccer Center in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 4th and announced the national team call-up list (26 players) to play against Kuwait and Palestine in the 2026 FIFA North and Central America World Cup Asian region 3rd qualifying round to be held in November. did it
Korea, which is leading Group B of the North and Central America World Cup 3rd qualifying round with 3 wins and 1 draw (10 points), will play the 5th game in Kuwait City, Kuwait at 11 PM on the 14th (hereinafter Korean time) and then travel to Amman, Jordan on the 19th. Game 6 will be played against Palestine at 11 p.m.
This time’s opponents, Kuwait (3 points) and Palestine (2 points), are ‘underdogs’ who failed to win even a single game in the third preliminary round and remain in 5th and 6th place in their group. The FIFA rankings of Kuwait and Palestine are 135th and 100th, respectively, showing a large difference compared to Korea, which is 22nd.
The national team is determined to secure a favorable bridgehead for advancing to the World Cup finals for the 11th consecutive time by earning 6 points in two consecutive matches in the Middle East. Accordingly, Director Hong assembled the most elite members.
Son Heung-min had to focus on rehabilitation for a while after injuring his hamstring (the muscle behind the thigh) in the 2024-25 UEFA Europa League (UEL) match against Karabakh (Azerbaijan) on September 27. He returned to action against West Ham in the English Premier League (EPL) on October 19, but was left out of the lineup again and had to rest for two weeks.
Son Heung-min, who was well rested, showed off his health by recording 1 assist in 56 minutes in the EPL match against Aston Villa held on the 3rd local time. Coach Hong, who was worried about ‘Plan B’ due to Son Heung-min’s absence last month, gained a lot of luck.
Additionally, Coach Hong selected defender Kwon Kyeong-won (Korfakkan), whom he inspected in person during a business trip to Europe and the Middle East last month. Striker Lee Young-jun (Grasshofer) and midfielder Won Doo-jae (Korfakkan), who were other subjects of observation, were not selected.
In addition, key players such as ‘Iron Pillar’ Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich), ‘Ace’ Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain), Hwang In-beom (Feyenoord), Lee Jae-seong (Mainz), and Jo Hyun-woo (Ulsan) were also named. Oh Hyun-gyu (Genk) and Bae Jun-ho (Stoke City), who performed well in the October international match, were also re-boarded with Hong Myung-bo.
In addition, Lee Chang-geun (Daejeon), Lee Ki-hyuk (Gangwon), Jeong Woo-young, Lee Tae-seok, Lee Hyun-ju, Kim Bong-su, and Kim Gyeong-min, who were omitted from the 1st and 2nd Hong Myung-boho list, were newly selected.
Some players will skip the November international match due to injury. Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton) and Uhm Um-seong (Swansea City) injured their left ankle and left knee, respectively, during the game against Jordan last month and are still in rehabilitation. Kim Seung-gyu (Al-Shabab), who joined Hong Myung-boho last month and wore the Taegeuk symbol for the first time in nine months, also missed the game due to a right knee injury.
◇ National team A list of players called up in November (26 players)
△Goalkeeper = Cho Hyun-woo (Ulsan HD), Kim Gyeong-min (Gwangju), Lee Chang-geun (Daejeon)
△Defenders = Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich, Germany), Jo Yu-min (Sharjah, UAE), Jeong Seung-hyun (Al Wasl, UAE), Kwon Gyeong-won (Korfakkan, UAE), Seol Young-woo (Zvezda, Serbia), Hwang Moon-ki (Gangwon), Myung-jae Lee (Ulsan), Lee Ki-hyuk (Gangwon), Tae-seok Lee (Pohang)
△Midfielder = Park Yong-woo (Al Ain, UAE), Baek Seung-ho (Birmingham, England), Kim Bong-su (Gimcheon), Hwang In-beom (Feyenoord, Netherlands), Lee Jae-seong (Mainz, Germany), Son Heung-min (Tottenham, England), Bae Jun-ho (Stoke, England). England), Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain/France), Jung Woo-young (Union Berlin/Germany) Lee Hyun-joo (Hannover/Germany), Hong Hyun-seok (Mainz/Germany)
△ Forwards = Joo Min-gyu (Ulsan), Oh Se-hoon (Machida Zelbia/Japan), Oh Hyun-gyu (Genk/Belgium)
(Seoul = News 1)
S a key player in the match. Hwang played a significant role in the team’s performance, contributing to the victory with a crucial goal. This win reinforces Korea’s strong position in Group B of the World Cup qualifiers, further solidifying their chances of advancing to the finals for a record 11th consecutive time.
The upcoming matches against Kuwait and Palestine will be critical, as Korea aims to secure all 6 points and maintain their lead in the group. Coach Hong Myung-bo’s selection of players reflects his strategy to utilize a blend of experienced and emerging talents, ensuring a balanced team that can adapt to varying game situations.
Korea’s recent performance, including their solid defense led by Kim Min-jae and creative midfield play from Lee Kang-in, indicates a well-rounded squad that is equipped to tackle the challenges posed by their opponents. As the team prepares for the matches, the focus will be on executing their game plan effectively and capitalizing on any opportunities to score.
In the context of the wider tournament, the success of the Korean national team is not just about qualification but also about building momentum heading into the World Cup, showcasing their capabilities on the international stage, and fostering talent for the future.