"If we let these players make their own decisions and hold themselves accountable, rather than passively follow instructions, then I think we will have a team that runs proactively." That's South Korea head coach Hong Myung-bo's philosophy heading into the 2026 World Cup — and it's either a genuinely progressive approach or a bold gamble, depending on how it lands.
Hong unveiled his 26-man squad on Saturday and outlined a training camp structure that leans heavily on player input. The KFA has set up pre-tournament camp in Salt Lake City, Utah — deliberately chosen to mirror the high-altitude conditions of Guadalajara, where two of South Korea's three Group A matches will be played. Six K League players depart Monday; the Europe-based contingent follows the week after.
The Hwang situation deserves attention
The most pressing issue in that squad is Hwang In-beom. Feyenoord's defensive midfielder — South Korea's most reliable option in that role — has been rehabbing an ankle injury picked up in March. He hasn't played much lately and, as Hong admitted, "doesn't have that match sharpness."
The two warm-up fixtures against Trinidad and Tobago and El Salvador in the US will essentially be Hwang's match-fitness auditions. If he isn't sharp by the time South Korea face Mexico, Czech Republic and South Africa in Group A, the midfield structure gets complicated fast. Hong has already flagged that Gangwon FC's Lee Gi-hyuk — a surprise inclusion with just one senior cap — could cover as a defensive midfielder if needed. That's a significant ask at a World Cup.
Lee's selection raised eyebrows, but there's logic to it. Gangwon have run the stingiest defense in K League 1 this season and the 25-year-old has been central to that. Hong cited his versatility across center back, midfielder and left fullback as the decisive factor. Versatility is currency in a 26-man squad — especially in a tournament that now stretches to 48 nations and a round of 32.
Son Heung-min and the goal drought nobody's panicking over
On paper, Son Heung-min heading into his fourth World Cup with two goals in 19 club appearances this season looks concerning. In MLS with LA Football Club, he's at zero goals — though he does lead the league with eight assists.
Hong isn't worried, and his reasoning is specific: Son is being deployed slightly deeper at LAFC than his national team role demands, limiting his scoring opportunities by design. A conversation about positioning is apparently all that's needed. Whether that's accurate or comfortable spin, we'll find out when the group stage begins.
What isn't in question is Son's status. The country's most-capped player at 142 appearances, 54 international goals — four short of the all-time record — and now heading to a fourth World Cup. South Korea's tournament odds live and die with how much of the best Son shows up.
Hong's stated goal is to reach the round of 32. With a group containing Mexico, Czech Republic and South Africa, that's genuinely achievable — but far from guaranteed. In the expanded format, the top two from each of 12 groups advance automatically, with eight best third-place teams joining them. "Once you get there, you don't know what's going to happen," Hong said. That's true. But you have to get there first.
