South Korea has announced a strong and experienced squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with captain Son Heung-min leading the team once again. Head coach Hong Myung-bo has picked a balanced side featuring established stars and promising young players as South Korea prepares for its 11th straight World Cup appearance. Key players such as Hwang Hee-chan, Kim Min-jae and Lee Kang-in are expected to play major roles during the tournament.
South Korea enters the World Cup with confidence after an impressive qualification campaign and will hope to better its Round of 16 finish from the 2022 edition in Qatar. The squad also includes German-born midfielder Jens Castrop, whose selection has drawn attention ahead of the tournament. With a mix of speed, defensive strength and attacking creativity, South Korea will aim to compete strongly against top teams and emerge as one of the tournament’s surprise contenders.
🚨🇰🇷 South Korea have announced their squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
— World Cup HQ (@WorldCup26HQ) May 16, 2026
Their schedule is as follows:
🇨🇿 Czech Republic | June 11
🇲🇽 Mexico | June 18
🇿🇦 South Africa | June 24 pic.twitter.com/dg1Jju2blq
South Korea is currently coached by Hong Myung-bo, who brings vast World Cup experience after representing the country as a player, assistant coach and head coach. At the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, South Korea reached the Round of 16 for the first time since 2010 before losing to Brazil.
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Hong said in Seoul, “Our primary goal is to reach the round of 32.” He also added “We do not know what will happen after that. We could go even further than we could have imagined. Our World Cup goal is not the round of 32; our primary goal is the round of 32.”
Korea Republic full squad for FIFA World Cup 2026
Goalkeepers: Jo Hyeon-woo, Kim Seung-gyu, Song Bum-keun
Defenders: Kim Min-jae, Cho Yu-min, Lee Han-beom, Kim Tae-hyeon, Park Jin-seob, Lee Gi-hyuk, Lee Tae-seok, Seol Young-woo, Jens Castrop, Kim Moon-hwan
Midfielders: Yang Hyun-jun, Paik Seung-ho, Hwang In-beom, Kim Jin-gyu, Bae Jun-ho, Eom Ji-sung, Hwang Hee-chan, Lee Dong-gyeong, Lee Jae-sung, Lee Kang-in
Forwards: Oh Hyeon-gyu, Son Heung-min, Cho Gue-sung
