Confederation: AFC • 2026 Group: Group C
The South Korea national football team represents South Korea in men's international football and competes under AFC. The squad is preparing for the 2026 World Cup and is part of Group C.
South Korea has qualified for the FIFA World Cup 11 times. Their best World Cup finish is Fourth place. On this page, South Korea is listed at 22nd in the FIFA Men's World Ranking, with a highest-ever ranking of 17th.
| 2026 World Cup Qualification | Qualified |
|---|---|
| World Cup Group | Group C (Confirmed) |
| Major Honors | Best World Cup result: Fourth place; confederation: AFC |
| Current FIFA Men's Ranking | 22nd |
| Highest-Ever FIFA Ranking | 17th |

Under head coach Hong Myung-bo, South Korea sets up with a balanced game plan for tournament football. The side focuses on compact defending, controlled midfield phases, and quick transitions after recoveries.
South Korea usually builds with structure, presses in key moments, and looks for direct attacks through the flanks and half-spaces. The front line supports pressing and makes runs behind the defense when transition chances appear.
Head Coach: Hong Myung-bo
South Korea is expected to use a 4-3-3 shape, with one holding midfielder and two support midfielders behind a front three. This setup keeps defensive balance while allowing quick counter-attacks and wide progression.
| Position | Likely Option |
|---|---|
| GK | Kim Seung-gyu |
| Defenders | Lee Myung-jae, Lee Han-beom, Kim Min-jae, Lee Tae-seok |
| Midfielders | Won Du-jae, Seo Min-woo, Lee Jae-sung |
| Attackers | Son Heung-min, Cho Gue-sung, Oh Hyeon-gyu |
South Korea's 2026 kit set keeps the national identity clear with match-ready details across all versions. The current supplier is Nike. The cards below show the Home, Away, Third, and Goalkeeper kits.




Current cycle context: South Korea competes under AFC and is currently mapped to Group C for the 2026.
Likely 2026 squad outlook: Core selection is expected to come from the active national-team pool shown on this page, with final selection confirmed by official squad announcements.
Playing style and strengths: This team profile emphasizes structure, role balance, transition control, and game-phase discipline, while tactical details can vary by opponent and availability.
Recent tournament context: Current ranking reference is 22nd and major-honors summary is Best World Cup result: Fourth place; confederation: AFC.
Top search topics: South Korea national football team 2026, South Korea world cup 2026 squad, South Korea team profile, South Korea fixtures and standings, South Korea tactical style, South Korea probable lineup 2026, South Korea strengths and weaknesses, South Korea recent tournament context.
Editorial note: This page is informational. Match-day XI, injuries, and official roster decisions should be verified through federation and FIFA communications.
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South Korea has qualified for the 2026 World Cup and is listed in Group C on this page. Group fixtures shown here include matches against Playoff Winner D, Mexico, and South Africa.
Hong Myung-bo is listed as the head coach of South Korea for the 2026. The tactical focus is on organization, transitions, and clear role balance across the squad.
On this page, South Korea is shown at 22nd in the FIFA Men's World Ranking, with a highest-ever ranking of 17th.