Team Overview

South Korea came through AFC qualifying to reach the finals. They are placed in Group C, where the current schedule on the site lists matches against Playoff Winner D, Mexico, and South Africa. Hong Myung-bo remains the head coach, and that keeps the page aligned with the latest tournament picture already published across FWCUMC.

South Korea arrive with 12 World Cup appearances including 2026, and Their best World Cup result remains fourth place (2002). The likely core still runs through Hwang Hee-chan, Cho Gue-sung, and Hwang In-beom. 22nd is the current FIFA ranking shown on this page, and that gives them a realistic platform to chase a last-16 place rather than simply make up the numbers.

South Korea Standings & Ranking Snapshot

2026 World Cup Qualification Qualified from AFC
World Cup Group Group C
Major Honors Best World Cup result: Fourth place (2002); confederation: AFC
Current FIFA Men's Ranking 22nd
Head Coach Hong Myung-bo
Highest-Ever FIFA Ranking 17th
Group C Schedule

South Korea Fixtures & Results

June 12 • 02:00 UTC Group A
South KoreaSouth Korea
0 - 0
Playoff Winner D
June 19 • 01:00 UTC Group A
MexicoMexico
0 - 0
South KoreaSouth Korea
June 25 • 01:00 UTC Group A
South AfricaSouth Africa
0 - 0
South KoreaSouth Korea
Current Squad

South Korea 2026 Squad List

Goalkeepers
Kim Seung-gyu player card
1 GK #1

Kim Seung-gyu

South Korea flag South Korea
Age35
Caps84
Goals0
ClubFC Tokyo
View Profile
Song Bum-keun player card
1 GK #12

Song Bum-keun

South Korea flag South Korea
Age28
Caps2
Goals0
ClubJeonbuk Hyundai Motors
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Jo Hyeon-woo player card
1 GK #21

Jo Hyeon-woo

South Korea flag South Korea
Age34
Caps46
Goals0
ClubUlsan HD
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Defenders
Lee Myung-jae player card
2 DF #2

Lee Myung-jae

South Korea flag South Korea
Age32
Caps10
Goals0
ClubDaejeon Hana Citizen
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Lee Han-beom player card
2 DF #3

Lee Han-beom

South Korea flag South Korea
Age23
Caps4
Goals0
ClubMidtjylland
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Kim Min-jae player card
2 DF #4

Kim Min-jae

South Korea flag South Korea
Age29
Caps75
Goals4
ClubBayern Munich
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Lee Tae-seok player card
2 DF #13

Lee Tae-seok

South Korea flag South Korea
Age23
Caps13
Goals1
ClubAustria Wien
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Cho Yu-min player card
2 DF #14

Cho Yu-min

South Korea flag South Korea
Age29
Caps17
Goals0
ClubSharjah
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Kim Moon-hwan player card
2 DF #15

Kim Moon-hwan

South Korea flag South Korea
Age30
Caps33
Goals0
ClubDaejeon Hana Citizen
View Profile
Park Jin-seob player card
2 DF #16

Park Jin-seob

South Korea flag South Korea
Age30
Caps11
Goals1
ClubZhejiang FC
View Profile
Seol Young-woo player card
2 DF #22

Seol Young-woo

South Korea flag South Korea
Age27
Caps30
Goals0
ClubRed Star Belgrade
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Kim Tae-hyeon player card
2 DF #26

Kim Tae-hyeon

South Korea flag South Korea
Age25
Caps5
Goals0
ClubKashima Antlers
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Midfielders
Won Du-jae player card
3 MF #5

Won Du-jae

South Korea flag South Korea
Age28
Caps11
Goals0
ClubKhor Fakkan
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Seo Min-woo player card
3 MF #8

Seo Min-woo

South Korea flag South Korea
Age27
Caps4
Goals0
ClubGangwon FC
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Lee Jae-sung player card
3 MF #10

Lee Jae-sung

South Korea flag South Korea
Age33
Caps102
Goals15
ClubMainz 05
View Profile
Hwang Hee-chan player card
3 MF #11

Hwang Hee-chan

South Korea flag South Korea
Age30
Caps75
Goals16
ClubWolverhampton Wanderers
View Profile
Eom Ji-sung player card
3 MF #17

Eom Ji-sung

South Korea flag South Korea
Age23
Caps6
Goals2
ClubSwansea City
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Lee Kang-in player card
3 MF #19

Lee Kang-in

South Korea flag South Korea
Age25
Caps44
Goals11
ClubParis Saint-Germain
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Bae Jun-ho player card
3 MF #20

Bae Jun-ho

South Korea flag South Korea
Age22
Caps11
Goals2
ClubStoke City
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Jens Castrop player card
3 MF #23

Jens Castrop

South Korea flag South Korea
Age22
Caps5
Goals0
ClubBorussia Mönchengladbach
View Profile
Kim Jin-gyu player card
3 MF #24

Kim Jin-gyu

South Korea flag South Korea
Age29
Caps18
Goals3
ClubJeonbuk Hyundai Motors
View Profile
Kwon Hyeok-kyu player card
3 MF #25

Kwon Hyeok-kyu

South Korea flag South Korea
Age24
Caps1
Goals0
ClubKarlsruher SC
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Yang Min-hyeok player card
3 MF #27

Yang Min-hyeok

South Korea flag South Korea
Age19
Caps2
Goals0
ClubCoventry City
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Forwards
Son Heung-min player card
4 FW #7

Son Heung-min

South Korea flag South Korea
Age33
Caps140
Goals54
ClubLos Angeles FC
View Profile
Cho Gue-sung player card
4 FW #9

Cho Gue-sung

South Korea flag South Korea
Age28
Caps41
Goals10
ClubMidtjylland
View Profile
Oh Hyeon-gyu player card
4 FW #18

Oh Hyeon-gyu

South Korea flag South Korea
Age24
Caps24
Goals6
ClubBeşiktaş
View Profile
Head Coach
Hong Myung-bo head coach card
HC#HC

Hong Myung-bo

South Korea flagSouth Korea
RoleHead Coach
StatusCurrent
TeamSouth Korea
View Tactics

South Korea Squad Outlook & Tactics

South Korea look strongest in a 4-2-3-1 on the current page setup. The shape gives the team a stable back four, enough protection in midfield, and clear lanes for the wide and central attackers. With Kim Moon-hwan and Kim Min-jae helping to stabilise the base and Hwang In-beom, Lee Jae-sung, Hwang Hee-chan, and Cho Gue-sung carrying the progressive work, the tactical picture feels clearer than the older thin version of this page.

Playing Style

Hong Myung-bo is most likely to lean on compact spacing, fast ball circulation, and direct forward support once possession turns. The current squad list suggests enough balance for controlled build-up and quick transitions rather than one-dimensional football.

Head Coach: Hong Myung-bo

Team Facts

  • Group C for the 2026 World Cup
  • World Cup appearances: 12
  • Best World Cup result: Fourth place

South Korea Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1)

A 4-2-3-1 still looks like the cleanest fit for South Korea based on the current squad and the probable lineup already shown on this page. It keeps the structure familiar, supports the main creators, and leaves enough protection behind the ball for tougher group-stage stretches.

Position Likely Option
GK Jo Hyeon-woo
Defenders Kim Moon-hwan, Kim Min-jae, Cho Yu-min, Lee Myung-jae
Midfielders Hwang In-beom, Lee Jae-sung, Lee Kang-in
Attackers Hwang Hee-chan, Cho Gue-sung, Son Heung-min

South Korea Team Kits (2026)

South Korea kits are easier to track now than they were earlier in the World Cup 2026 build-up. The key is to separate shirts that are formally launched from shirts that are still waiting for clearer supplier or federation confirmation.

The easiest way to shop South Korea kits is to separate standard fan versions from tighter player editions. If a product page does not clearly list the cut, check sizing guidance before you buy. The current supplier trail points to Nike, and the separate South Korea kit guide now carries the fuller release-status detail.

Kit Design Details

  • Home Kit: Treat it as the working home option until a newer tournament drop is published.
  • Away Kit: Use it as the working contrast option until a newer away reveal replaces it.
  • Third Kit: yet to be confirmed.
  • Goalkeeper Kit: Dedicated keeper shirt for contrast and visibility.
South Korea Home Kit preview

Home Kit

South Korea Away Kit preview

Away Kit

South Korea Third Kit preview

Third Kit

South Korea Goalkeeper Kit preview

Goalkeeper Kit

South Korea 2026 Style, Strengths, and Tournament Outlook

South Korea do not need filler optimism to make the case. The team already have a defined group path against Playoff Winner D, Mexico, and South Africa, a settled coaching reference in Hong Myung-bo, and a current ranking line of 22nd. That gives them a realistic platform to chase a last-16 place rather than simply make up the numbers.

If Hwang Hee-chan, Cho Gue-sung, and Son Heung-min convert chances consistently and the midfield led by Hwang In-beom and Lee Jae-sung controls transitions, South Korea can make this group uncomfortable for opponents. The exact ceiling will still depend on finishing, defensive concentration, and how well the final tournament squad holds up physically across three matches.

Got Questions?

Frequently Asked Questions

Qualified from AFC.

Hong Myung-bo is the current head coach on this page, and the probable setup still points to a 4-2-3-1 as the clearest base structure.

The current group-stage schedule on the site lists Playoff Winner D, Mexico, and South Africa as South Korea's opponents in Group C.

The current ranking shown on this page is 22nd. The highest-ever FIFA ranking listed here is 17th.

The current South Korea kit picture on this site points to Nike as the supplier. The clearest public read is the home shirt as Treat it as the working home option until a newer tournament drop is published., with the away shirt tracked as Use it as the working contrast option until a newer away reveal replaces it..