Korea Republic team profile - FIFA World Cup 2026
In the build-up to FIFA World Cup 2026 in USA, Canada and Mexico, we shine a spotlight on Korea Republic.
FIFA World Ranking: 25
Confederation: AFC
Who is Korea Republic’s head coach for FIFA World Cup 2026?
Korea Republic’s head coach for FIFA World Cup 2026 is Hong Myung-bo. He has been in charge since July 8 2024 and has previously represented his country at four FIFA World Cups as a player, earning 136 caps.
Who is Korea Republic’s captain for FIFA World Cup 2026?
Korea Republic’s captain for FIFA World Cup 2026 is Son Heung-min, who is Korea Republic’s most capped player with over 140 appearances to his name since making his senior international debut in 2010.
How many times have Korea Republic participated in a FIFA World Cup before 2026?
11 – 1954, 1986, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022 (FIFA World Cup 2026 will be the tenth consecutive men’s World Cup to feature Korea Republic.)
What is Korea Republic’s best performance at a FIFA World Cup?
Fourth Place – 2002 (Korea Republic reached the semi-finals at FIFA World Cup 2002, a tournament they joint-hosted with Japan.
How did Korea Republic qualify for FIFA World Cup 2026?
Korea Republic qualified for FIFA World Cup 2026 after finishing top of their group in the third round of the AFC qualification stage. After receiving a bye through the first round, the second round saw 36 teams drawn into nine groups with four, with Korea Republic finishing top of Group C on 16 points having won five and drawn one of their six group matches, scoring 20 goals and conceding just one.
The 18 teams who qualified through the second round was placed into three groups of six in third round with the top two in each group qualifying for FIFA World Cup 2026. Korea Republic finished first-place in Group B on 22 points, six points above second-placed Jordan.
Confirmation of Korea Republic’s FIFA World Cup 2026 qualification came on June 5, 2025 after a 2-0 win against Iraq in the ninth round of Group B matches.
Who are Korea Republic’s star players?
One of the greatest Asian footballers of all-time, Son Heung-min (LAFC) is set to compete in his fourth FIFA World Cup. The all-time leading goalscorer among Asian players in both the UEFA Champions League and English Premier League leads from the front not only through his individual skill, but also his ability to bring teammates into the game. Son is not only a key creative outlet for Korea Republic whether he be deployed on the wing or centrally, but the attacker’s goals and assists are pivotal to his nation’s success. Korea Republic fans will fondly remember the 2018 Asian Games, which saw Son guide his country to victory, assisting both goals in their win over Japan in the gold medal match.
The second player with over 100 caps who will be featuring for Korea Republic at FIFA World Cup 2026 is Lee Jae-sung (Mainz), another attacking midfielder capable of playing either in the middle or out on the wing. Making his senior international debut in 2015, Lee has made at least one appearance for his country in every year since, including six in FIFA World Cup competition leading up to the 2026 tournament.
Who is in Korea Republic’s group at FIFA World Cup 2026?
Korea Republic are in Group A, which consists of the following teams:
Mexico
South Africa
Korea Republic
Czechia
Korea Republic’s Group A fixtures are as follows:
Korea Republic vs Czechia: Thursday June 11, 2026 – 10:00pm ET, 3:00am UK (Friday)
Mexico vs Korea Republic: Thursday June 18, 2026 – 9:00pm ET, 2:00am UK (Friday)
South Africa vs Korea Republic: Wednesday June 24, 2026 – 9:00pm ET, 2:00am UK (Thursday)
All kick-off dates are based on a local kick-off time
Where is Korea Republic’s base camp at FIFA World Cup 2026?
Chivas Verde Valle – Guadalajara, Mexico.
Expert prediction for Korea Republic’s chances at FIFA World Cup 2026
The worry for Korea Republic is the depth among their squad. Whilst they boast a genuine superstar of the game in Son Heung-min, he will turn 34-years-old at FIFA World Cup 2026 and you could argue that it’s more difficult for him now to single-handedly turn a game in Korea Republic’s favour like we’ve seen in previous tournaments.
Mexico on their own turf is tough group stage opposition, as is Czechia, who are always a significantly underestimated European nation capable of springing a surprise. Even South Africa won’t be pushovers, with Bafana Bafana a significant counter-attacking threat with good pace going forward.
If Korea Republic fail to finish in the top two of Group A, they could easily end up missing out on the round of 32 because of how tough it’s likely to be to find a victory against the opposition they are set to face. Despite the presence of Son, Korea Republic may well prove to be a high-profile early exit at FIFA World Cup 2026.
What round will Korea Republic reach at FIFA World Cup 2026? Group Stage
