Yang Min-hyuk (19, Queens Park Rangers) has succeeded in his dream of debuting in an A match.

The South Korean national football team, led by head coach Hong Myung-bo, is facing Jordan in the 8th match of Group B of the third qualifying round for the 2026 Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup Asia region, held at Suwon World Cup Stadium on the 25th at 8 p.m. The current score is 1-1 as the second half progresses.

South Korea drew 1-1 against Oman on the 20th. They failed to maintain the lead from Hwang Hee-chan's early goal at the end of the first half. Adding just 1 point at home, South Korea has recorded a total of 15 points (4 wins, 3 draws) and is maintaining a precarious first place in the group. They are just 3 points ahead of second-place Jordan and third-place Iraq (both with 12 points).

The national team aimed to secure early qualification for the World Cup finals for the 11th consecutive time in this two-home-game series, but that possibility was dashed by the draw against Oman. Instead, there is a chance they could lose the top spot to Jordan or Iraq. If South Korea loses to Jordan on this day, the rankings could flip.

Moreover, injury issues have arisen. Kim Min-jae could not join due to an Achilles tendon injury, and Jeong Seung-hyun injured his calf during training. Additionally, Baek Seung-ho and Lee Kang-in collapsed one after the other during the match against Oman. Jeong Seung-hyun, Baek Seung-ho, and Lee Kang-in have all been released from the squad and cannot play.

Desperate for a win, head coach Hong Myung-bo made bold moves. Captain Son Heung-min was placed at the front of the 4-2-3-1 formation, while Hwang Hee-chan, Lee Jae-sung, and Lee Dong-kyung formed the second line. Park Yong-woo and Hwang In-beom provided support behind them, while Lee Tae-seok, Kwon Kyung-won, Jo Yu-min, and Seol Young-woo made up the defense. Jo Hyun-woo guarded the goal.

Jordan lined up in a 3-4-3 formation. Mahmoud Al-Mardi, Yazan Al-Naimat, and Mousa Al-Tamari were joined by Mohanad Abu Taha, Nizar Al-Rashdan, Amer Jamous, and Ehsan Haddad, with Mohamed Abu Al-Nadi, Yazan Al-Araib, Abdullah Nashif, and Yazid Abu Raileh making up the starting lineup.

A welcome opening goal came early in the match. The hero was Lee Jae-sung. In the 5th minute of the first half, Son Heung-min sent in a sharp corner kick from the left, and Lee Jae-sung finished it off with a left-footed shot. This marked Lee Jae-sung's second opening goal against Jordan after his away match last October.

Jordan equalized. In the 30th minute of the first half, Park Yong-woo lost the ball in the midfield, giving away a counter-attack opportunity. Al-Naimat broke through the center, and Al-Tamari unleashed a dangerous left-foot shot. The first shot was blocked by Jo Hyun-woo, but the loose ball was consolidated by Al-Mardi, shaking the net.

After finishing the first half at 1-1, South Korea utilized a substitution card immediately at the start of the second half. Head coach Hong Myung-bo brought Lee Dong-kyung off and introduced Yang Min-hyuk, changing the attacking line.

As a result, Yang Min-hyuk made his A match debut. Although he has been selected for the national team several times, he had never actually played in a match. Always expressing his dream of debuting, Yang Min-hyuk received head coach Hong Myung-bo's selection amidst Lee Kang-in’s absence, making his first appearance at home under the watchful eyes of the Red Devils.

Yang Min-hyuk was placed in the right wing that Lee Dong-kyung had been responsible for. He is having his debut match at a crucial moment. Additionally, at the age of 18 years and 343 days, he debuted on the senior national team, ranking 12th for the youngest appearance record.

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