Ahead of the third round of the final qualifiers for the Asian region of the FIFA World Cup 2026, which will be held in North and Central America, the South Korean national football team faces a significant test. With the injury withdrawal of key player Lee Kang-in (24, Paris Saint-Germain) and a series of withdrawals in the midfield, head coach Hong Myung-bo must find new solutions against the tough opponent Jordan.

South Korea will face Jordan in the group stage round 8 on the 25th at 8 p.m. at Suwon World Cup Stadium. Currently, South Korea leads Group B with 4 wins and 3 draws (15 points). However, the team missed an early opportunity to secure a spot in the finals after a 1-1 draw against Oman in the seventh round. The point difference with Jordan (12 points) is only 3, with goal differences of South Korea +7 and Jordan +6, just 1 point apart. If they lose this match, their first place in the group could be at risk.

The national team is currently facing a significant challenge due to loss of personnel. Lee Kang-in, who has played a key role in the attack, was substituted due to an ankle injury right after assisting Hwang Hee-chan's goal in the Oman match. Baek Seung-ho (Birmingham City) and Jeong Seung-hyun (Al Wasl) also dropped out due to injuries. In particular, the absence of the versatile Lee Kang-in has a considerable impact on tactical operations.

Head coach Hong Myung-bo noted, "The results of the detailed examinations on all three players were not serious, but we decided to send them home early after discussions with their affiliated clubs." The national team is preparing for the match against Jordan with the remaining 25 players without any additional call-ups.

The absence of Lee Kang-in has implications beyond just a simple vacancy. He has been consistently played as a starter under coach Hong, leading the attack with quick transitions and precise passes. A representative example is the fact that the team did not record a single shot until Lee was substituted in the Oman match.

Now, the burden in the midfield has shifted to Hwang In-beom (29, Feyenoord). He did not play in the last match as a measure of managing his stamina, but he is expected to be available for the match against Jordan. However, since he is not at peak condition, he could be a variable.

If Hwang In-beom cannot perform at his best, the midfield of the national team, already lacking Lee Kang-in and Baek Seung-ho, will suffer an even greater void. The ability to control the game and the speed of transitions are likely to be diminished.

Jordan is gaining momentum after recently defeating Palestine 3-1. With a threatening attack lineup, including Musa Al-Tamari (Stade Ren) and Yazan Al-Naimat (Al Arabi), a heavy defensive burden is anticipated.

The absence of Lee Kang-in also negatively impacts positional flexibility. With Lee playing roles in various positions including the sides, center, and deep-lying playmaker in a defensive midfielder spot, head coach Hong is considering different scenarios such as using the Won Du-jae-Park Yong-woo combination for defensive midfield or adjusting Lee Jae-sung's role.

Additionally, there are concerns about Son Heung-min (33, Tottenham) due to his recent performance. He made a critical passing error leading to a goal in the Oman match and faced difficulties, losing possession 19 times. He stated before the match that "his condition is at its peak," but his performance did not meet expectations.

Nevertheless, in the absence of Lee Kang-in, the responsibility and role expected from Son Heung-min have increased significantly. He expressed, "I feel sorry for the team. I will use this as an opportunity for reflection," indicating his self-reproach, and true leadership is needed from him in the match against Jordan.

This encounter is regarded as the first true crisis situation since head coach Hong Myung-bo took the helm, surpassing just a simple qualification for the finals. It is crucial to see whether the team can maintain first place in the group and if they can lead the attack without Lee Kang-in.

The South Korean national team will hold an official training session at Suwon World Cup Stadium at 6 p.m. on the 24th, a day before the match against Jordan. Before the training, head coach Hong Myung-bo and Lee Jae-sung are set to conduct an official press conference.

Meanwhile, the Korea Football Association announced, "On the 25th during the match against Jordan, various on-site programs will be held, including a card section, celebratory performances, and experiential events." They added that within the stadium, the card section led by Red Devils and a halftime performance by 'Norazo' will take place, while outside the stadium, a fan experience zone called 'KFA Playground' will operate.

The match against Jordan is sold out with all 41,000 seats taken.

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