The real ace Lee Kang-in (24, Paris Saint-Germain) is out.

The South Korean national football team, led by coach Hong Myung-bo (56), will face Jordan in the '2026 FIFA North and Central America World Cup Asian region third qualifying round group B match' at Suwon World Cup Stadium on the 25th.

South Korea drew 1-1 against Oman on the 20th, failing to hold on to Hwang Hee-chan's opening goal. South Korea is maintaining a somewhat shaky first place in group B with 15 points (5 wins, 3 draws).

If South Korea had defeated Oman and Jordan, they could have secured advancement to the World Cup finals early. However, the shock draw against Oman has postponed their qualification.

Additionally, the team is not at full strength. Injuries are occurring frequently. Kim Min-jae, who had already been summoned, has been replaced by Kim Joo-sung due to a serious hamstring injury at Bayern Munich. Furthermore, Jung Seung-hyun could not participate in the Oman match due to a thigh injury.

The midfield is particularly problematic. Hwang In-beom, a key player in the team's midfield, has been selected for the starting line-up, but his physical condition is not good. Moreover, there were multiple injuries in the recent Oman match.

In fact, both Lee Kang-in and Baek Seung-ho, who played in the match, were injured. In the first half of the Oman match, Baek Seung-ho was substituted due to a left hamstring injury. Lee Kang-in, who was brought on as a substitute, also suffered an ankle injury in the 34th minute of the second half.

Lee Kang-in and Baek Seung-ho were released from the national team on the 22nd, along with Jung Seung-hyun. The three players are expected to return to their teams after receiving treatment in South Korea. Coach Hong Myung-bo conducted recovery and tactical training at Yongin Mir Stadium on the 22nd. Although they suffered a shocking draw against Oman, the atmosphere within the team remained positive. With two home matches in a row, they are determined to secure a victory against Jordan.

Coach Hong Myung-bo said, “I thought Lee Kang-in's injury would be serious, but the examination results yesterday showed it is not as severe as expected. After our meeting today, I confirmed his attitude and mindset for joining the national team. It was a decision made from our perspective because he is an important player for his club as well. We will prepare for the match against Jordan with the remaining 25 players, and there will be no replacements.”

The national team came out to the field at 4 p.m. Players like Son Heung-min and Hwang Hee-chan, who played a lot in the Oman match, took a light jog around the field to adjust their condition. Afterwards, the players began stretching. The remaining 14 players undertook high-intensity stretching from the start, and then immediately began working with the ball. Coach Hong Myung-bo focused on recovery training for those who played a lot in the Oman match, while players who did not play much were in condition to start immediately in the match against Jordan.

A Korea Football Association official noted, “Lee Kang-in, Baek Seung-ho, and Jung Seung-hyun are planning to focus on treatment at home for now. Their travel plans will be decided freely in agreement with their respective teams. None of the three players had serious injuries, and recovery is expected to take about two weeks.”

Coach Hong Myung-bo stated, “In the last match against Oman, I expected new players to participate. Suddenly, with Baek Seung-ho's injury and the quick substitution of Lee Kang-in, the plan went awry. The new young players are facing various difficulties coming from Europe to Korea, such as time zone issues. I am always preparing to include new players anytime.”

The release of Baek Seung-ho and Jung Seung-hyun is a significant blow, but Lee Kang-in's absence is felt even more strongly. Lee Kang-in made a remarkable impact by creating Hwang Hee-chan's opening goal with a long pass right after entering the Oman match. Unfortunately, he collapsed due to an injury at the end of the game.

If there is one player who has shown consistent good form in the national team recently, it is undoubtedly Lee Kang-in. Particularly, Lee Kang-in's absence, known for his sharp kicks and presence against Asian teams, is likely to pose a significant challenge in the match against Jordan. Due to the gap left by Lee Kang-in, the Hong Myung-bo team is on high alert regarding the midfield combination issues.

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