Korea Republic at the FIFA World Cup 2026

History

Korea Republic is Asia's most frequent World Cup participant, having qualified for 11 tournaments. Their first appearance was in 1954 and they went five editions without recording a victory. Their crowning achievement came in 2002, when they co-hosted the tournament with Japan and reached the semi-finals, eventually finishing fourth - the best result ever achieved by an Asian nation. They have appeared in every World Cup since 1986, making 2026 their tenth consecutive qualification.

Qualification

Korea Republic qualified through the AFC third-round qualifiers, finishing as winners of Group B, which also included Iraq, Jordan, Oman, Palestine, and Kuwait. They were the only Asian side to go unbeaten throughout the qualifying campaign. A 2-0 away victory over Iraq sealed their place in the tournament before the final matchday. They qualified directly as group winners, without needing to enter any further playoff rounds.

Preparation

Korea Republic departed for their pre-tournament training camp in Salt Lake City, Utah on 18 May 2026, choosing the high-altitude environment (about 1,460 metres) to acclimatize ahead of matches at venues across Mexico. Coach Hong Myung-bo emphasized altitude adaptation as a key preparation variable, with conditions chosen to mirror Guadalajara's Akron Stadium (about 1,571 metres), where Korea play their first two group matches. The squad opened with a 5-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago at BYU South Field in Provo on 31 May (braces from Son Heung-min and Cho Gue-sung, plus a Hwang Hee-chan penalty). A final tune-up against El Salvador follows on 4 June at the same venue, after which the team moves to its World Cup base camp in Guadalajara.

Latest news

Cho Yu-min ruled out of World Cup with plantar fascia tear; replaced by Cho Wi-je

· injuries

Cho Yu-min suffered a partial plantar fascia tear (right foot, non-contact, second half vs Trinidad and Tobago on 31 May) and was released from the squad with an eight-week prognosis. Jeonbuk centre-back Cho Wi-je (uncapped) was called up as replacement. Bae Jun-ho twisted his right ankle in the same match but avoided major injury and remained in the squad.

Son and Cho score braces as Korea rout Trinidad and Tobago 5-0 in World Cup tune-up

· matches

In their first pre-World Cup friendly at BYU South Field in Provo, Utah, Korea Republic beat Trinidad and Tobago 5-0. Son Heung-min struck twice (40th minute open play, 43rd from the penalty spot), Cho Gue-sung added a second-half brace (66' header, 77'), and Hwang Hee-chan converted a 74th-minute penalty. Son's double took him to 56 international goals, two short of Cha Bum-kun's national record.

Cho Gue-sung on Salt Lake City altitude: "My mouth is extremely dry, but I will adapt quickly"

· general

After his brace against Trinidad and Tobago, Cho Gue-sung described the challenge of playing at Salt Lake City's roughly 1,460-metre elevation, saying the ball moved faster than usual and his mouth felt extremely dry, but pledging to adapt quickly. The high-altitude camp is intended to ready the squad for Guadalajara, where their first group matches at Akron Stadium sit at about 1,571 metres.

Lee Kang-in to join camp last after Champions League final, leaving little altitude-adaptation time

· squad

PSG's Lee Kang-in is set to be the final squad member to reach the Salt Lake City camp, travelling over after the UEFA Champions League final against Arsenal and expected on 1 June (Korean time). Korean media flagged that with the El Salvador friendly on 4 June, he will have limited time to adapt to the high-altitude conditions before the World Cup.

Squad

PlayerPositionClub
Kim Seung-gyuGKFC Tokyo
Jo Hyeon-wooGKUlsan HD
Song Bum-keunGKJeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Kim Min-jaeDFBayern Munich
Kim Moon-hwanDFDaejeon Hana Citizen
Seol Young-wooDFRed Star Belgrade
Cho Yu-minDFSharjah
Lee Tae-seokDFAustria Wien
Park Jin-seobDFZhejiang FC
Kim Tae-hyeonDFKashima Antlers
Lee Han-beomDFMidtjylland
Jens CastropDFBorussia Mönchengladbach
Lee Ki-hyukDFGangwon FC
Lee Jae-sungMFMainz 05
Hwang Hee-chanMFWolverhampton Wanderers
Hwang In-beomMFFeyenoord
Lee Kang-inMFParis Saint-Germain
Paik Seung-hoMFBirmingham City
Kim Jin-gyuMFJeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Lee Dong-gyeongMFUlsan HD
Bae Jun-hoMFStoke City
Eom Ji-sungMFSwansea City
Yang Hyun-junMFCeltic
Son Heung-minFWLos Angeles FC
Cho Gue-sungFWMidtjylland
Oh Hyeon-gyuFWBeşiktaş

Recent results

  • 2023-11-16 — KOR 5-0 SGP (qualification)
  • 2023-11-21 — CHN 0-3 KOR (qualification)
  • 2024-01-06 — IRQ 0-1 KOR (friendly)
  • 2024-03-21 — KOR 1-1 THA (qualification)
  • 2024-03-26 — THA 0-3 KOR (qualification)
  • 2024-06-06 — SGP 0-7 KOR (qualification)
  • 2024-06-11 — KOR 1-0 CHN (qualification)
  • 2024-09-05 — KOR 0-0 PLE (qualification)
  • 2024-09-10 — OMA 1-3 KOR (qualification)
  • 2024-10-10 — JOR 0-2 KOR (qualification)
  • 2024-10-15 — KOR 3-2 IRQ (qualification)
  • 2024-11-14 — KUW 1-3 KOR (qualification)
  • 2024-11-19 — PLE 1-1 KOR (qualification)
  • 2025-03-20 — KOR 1-1 OMA (qualification)
  • 2025-03-25 — KOR 1-1 JOR (qualification)
  • 2025-06-05 — IRQ 0-2 KOR (qualification)
  • 2025-06-10 — KOR 4-0 KUW (qualification)
  • 2025-09-06 — USA 0-2 KOR (friendly)
  • 2025-09-09 — MEX 2-2 KOR (friendly)
  • 2025-10-10 — KOR 0-5 BRA (friendly)
  • 2025-10-14 — KOR 2-0 PAR (friendly)
  • 2025-11-14 — KOR 2-0 BOL (friendly)
  • 2025-11-18 — KOR 1-0 GHA (friendly)
  • 2026-03-28 — CIV 4-0 KOR (friendly)
  • 2026-03-31 — AUT 1-0 KOR (friendly)

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