South Korea World Cup 2026 Squad: Full 26-Man Roster, Son Heung-min Leads Taegeuk Warriors

Hong Myung-bo named his 26-man South Korea squad on May 16, 2026, confirming the Taegeuk Warriors for an 11th consecutive World Cup appearance. Son Heung-min captains a squad that blends established European-based stars with the best of K-League talent, drawn into Group A alongside Mexico, South Africa, and Czechia.

Last updated: May 16, 2026.

Full 26-man squad

Goalkeepers

Defenders

Midfielders

Forwards

Key inclusions

Son Heung-min enters his fourth World Cup as Korea’s undisputed leader. The Tottenham forward remains the team’s primary goal threat and emotional center, with 135 caps and 44 international goals. At 33, this is likely his final World Cup at peak level.

Lee Kang-in (PSG) has developed into Korea’s most technically gifted player and the creative hub of Hong Myung-bo’s system. His ability to operate between lines and deliver final-third passes will determine how effectively Korea transitions against organized Group A opponents.

Kim Min-jae anchors the defense after three seasons at Bayern Munich. The 29-year-old’s physical presence and Champions League experience make him the cornerstone of Korea’s defensive organization — critical against Mexico’s attacking depth and Czechia’s set-piece threat.

Bae Jun-ho (Stoke City) and Yang Hyun-jun (Celtic) represent the next generation of Korean attacking talent. Both 22-year-olds earned their places after consistent Championship and Scottish Premiership seasons, providing pace and directness from wide positions.

Yang Min-hyeok became the youngest member of the squad at 20, rewarded for his progress on loan at QPR from Tottenham. His inclusion signals Hong’s commitment to integrating emerging talent alongside the established core.

Notable omissions

Hwang Ui-jo (35, FC Seoul) was not selected after limited club minutes and declining form. The forward featured at the 2018 and 2022 World Cups but Hong opted for younger options in Oh Hyeon-gyu and Oh Se-hun behind Hwang Hee-chan.

Kim Jin-su (33, Jeonbuk Hyundai) and Kim Tae-hwan (35, Ulsan HD) — both 2022 World Cup veterans — were omitted as Hong prioritized younger full-back options in Seol Young-woo and Lee Tae-seok.

Lee Han-beom (Midtjylland) and Cho Gue-sung (Midtjylland) were on the preliminary list but missed the final cut after inconsistent seasons in Denmark.

Tactical outlook

Hong Myung-bo deploys a 4-2-3-1 system built around maximizing Son Heung-min’s threat from the left. Son starts wide but has freedom to drift inside and operate as a second striker, with Lee Tae-seok overlapping to provide width.

Lee Kang-in plays as the central attacking midfielder — the system’s creative engine — with Hwang Hee-chan providing direct running and pressing from the right. The double pivot of Hwang In-beom and Park Yong-woo is selected for positional discipline, protecting the back four and enabling quick distribution to the attacking trio.

Defensively, Kim Min-jae marshals a back four that combines Bundesliga physicality with K-League organizational discipline. Goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo remains a reliable shot-stopper at 34, with his 2018 World Cup heroics still the benchmark for Korean goalkeeping performances.

The system is designed to absorb pressure and counter-attack at pace — a pragmatic approach suited to a group where Korea will not dominate possession against Mexico and will need to break down South Africa and Czechia.

Group A outlook

Korea faces a challenging but navigable Group A:

• vs Czechia (Guadalajara, June 13) — The opener is Korea’s most important match. Czechia is a disciplined, physically imposing opponent. Korea’s technical quality in wide areas can unlock this game if Son and Lee Kang-in find space between the lines.
• vs South Africa (Mexico City, June 18) — South Africa returns to the World Cup after missing 2018 and 2022. Korea has more tournament experience and should control possession, but altitude in Mexico City is a shared challenge for both teams.
• vs Mexico (Mexico City, June 24) — The group’s headline match. Mexico plays effectively at home (all three group matches in Mexico), with massive crowd support. A result here likely determines group winner status.

Korea should target at least 4 points to advance. Mexico is the group favorite given home advantage, but Korea’s European-based core and tournament experience make second place — and a Round of 32 berth — the realistic expectation.

Fan planning links

• Group A full analysis
• Guadalajara host city guide
• Mexico City host city guide
• How to watch legally
• Squad tracker — all 48 teams

Sources checked

• KFA (Korea Football Association) official squad announcement
• Apex Football qualifiers squad data
• K-League official player records
• Fox Sports / Sporting News Korea coverage