Son Heung-min is heading to his fourth World Cup — this time representing South Korea from a Los Angeles LAFC shirt rather than a Tottenham one. That context matters. The captain is no longer the Premier League star carrying a team; he's a 30-something talisman in the final stretch of his international career, and 2026 might be his last shot at a defining tournament moment.
South Korea arrive in North America with legitimate ambitions. They're not 2002 — nobody is expecting semi-finals — but after consecutive group-stage exits in 2014 and 2018, they at least recovered in 2022 with a Round of 16 run before Brazil shut it down. The direction of travel is the right one. Now they need a squad capable of taking the next step.
A squad built around European quality
The spine of this side is genuinely strong. Kim Min-jae anchors the defence from Bayern Munich, and at this point he's not just South Korea's best centre-back — he's one of the best in the Bundesliga. His partnership with Yu-min Cho of Sharjah should be solid enough to keep most group-stage opponents honest.
The midfield is where it gets interesting. Feyenoord's Hwang In-beom is the engine, the player who sets the tempo and keeps things structured. Around him, Hong Myung-bo has options: Birmingham City's Paik Seung-ho, Stoke City's Bae Jun-ho, Celtic's Yang Hyun-jun, and the experienced Lee Jae-sung from Mainz. That's depth across a variety of styles and leagues.
Lee Kang-in is arguably the most dangerous creative force in the group. His work at Paris Saint-Germain has shown he can operate at the highest level, and he's the player most likely to unlock compact defensive blocks when South Korea need a moment of quality.
The attack hinges on Son — and beyond him
Son will be the focal point of every opposition game plan, which is precisely why the supporting cast matters. Oh Hyeon-gyu has had a productive stint at Besiktas and offers a proper physical No.9 presence. Cho Gue-sung, the Midtjylland striker who became a household name at the 2022 World Cup, brings proven tournament experience from the last edition.
The conversation about South Korea's ceiling will come down to one question: can they get enough out of Son while protecting him from the defensive attention he'll inevitably attract? When the answers to those two things align, this team can genuinely threaten anyone they meet in the group.
Predicted South Korea starting XI (4-2-3-1):
- GK: Kim Seung-gyu
- RB: Seol Young-woo
- CB: Kim Min-jae
- CB: Cho Yu-min
- LB: Lee Tae-seok
- CM: Paik Seung-ho
- CM: Hwang In-beom
- RAM: Son Heung-min
- CAM: Lee Jae-sung
- LAM: Lee Kang-in
- ST: Oh Hyeon-gyu
South Korea's odds to advance from their group will depend heavily on the draw, but this is a squad that finished a round of 16 campaign in 2022 and has added quality since. That trajectory is what makes them genuinely worth watching — not nostalgia for 2002.
