Doubts Surround South Korea Before the World Cup

South Korea enters the 2026 World Cup amid a state of technical and tactical instability, as coach Hong Myung-bo has not yet decided on the final style between a four-player defense or switching to a 3-4-3 formation. This raises concerns about the team's cohesion before the tournament begins. This comes after an unconvincing performance in the qualifiers, despite not suffering any losses.

At the level of names, the team is suffering from an injury crisis and fluctuating performance among several key players, such as Son Heung-min, Kim Min-jae, Lee Kang-in, and Hwang Hee-chan. Additionally, there are physical issues and injuries affecting other members like Hwang In-beom and Lee Jae-sung, which overall reduces the team's readiness.

In the qualifiers, South Korea advanced without any defeats over 16 matches but failed to win against Palestine twice. Naturally, in the World Cup, they now face a tougher test in a group that includes Mexico, South Africa, and the Czech Republic.

Nevertheless, the primary goal remains to advance beyond the group stage, with the coaching staff aware that the path to the later rounds will be complicated given the current circumstances.

On an individual level, Son Heung-min remains the most prominent name and team captain, alongside forward Oh Hyeon-gyu, who stands out as a promising attacking option, while Lee Jae-sung provides an important balance in the midfield. However, expectations remain relatively low due to tactical controversies, significant pressure, and injuries affecting the team before the World Cup.