It was a match that desperately needed a pass from Lee Kang-in (24, Paris Saint-Germain).

The South Korean national football team, led by head coach Hong Myung-bo, drew 1-1 against Jordan in the 8th match of the Group B third round of the 2026 FIFA North and Central American World Cup Asian qualifiers at Suwon World Cup Stadium on the 25th at 8 p.m.

As a result, Korea has recorded draws in all three matches since last November against Palestine, the 20th against Oman, and today against Jordan. In particular, the team was left with deep regret for not winning in both home matches.

Now, Korea maintains an unstable first place with 16 points (4 wins, 4 draws). The gap is not large with second-place Jordan (13 points) and third-place Iraq (12 points), who have played one match less. There is also a significant possibility of changes depending on the results of the A matches in June.

The national team was determined to secure an early qualification for the World Cup finals with a victory in this home match series, but that hope was dashed. Maintaining an unbeaten record, even if just barely, is a point of consolation.

From before the match, the absence of Lee Kang-in was a major concern. Lee Kang-in is a player who can quickly change the flow of a game with a single decisive pass when the team struggles.

In fact, Lee Kang-in provided a fantastic forward pass to Hwang Hee-chan after being substituted in during the match against Oman, setting up the opening goal. While Hwang Hee-chan's touch and finish were perfect, it was Lee Kang-in's pass that made the goal possible.

However, Lee Kang-in had to leave the field before the final whistle in the match against Oman. He sustained an injury to his ankle after getting caught on the grass while contesting the ball with an opponent just before Oman's equalizing goal in the 35th minute of the second half, and he was unable to get up on his own. Following this, Lee Kang-in, who continued to complain of pain, was carried off by staff, and he was seen using crutches.

Eventually, Lee Kang-in was released from the team. According to the Korea Football Association, fortunately, it is not a serious injury, but it was decided to focus on recovery for the sake of player protection. Lee Kang-in watched his teammates' match from the stands at Suwon World Cup Stadium on this day.

As feared, the absence of Lee Kang-in was not small. Head coach Hong Myung-bo placed Lee Dong-gyeong on the right wing in Lee Kang-in's stead, but it was not satisfactory. Although Lee Dong-gyeong tried to move diligently in the half-space and on the side to synchronize with Seol Young-woo, he had no distinct presence.

Then, with the start of the second half, head coach Hong Myung-bo made a bold move, substituting Lee Dong-gyeong for Yang Min-hyeok, who has no A match experience. Yang Min-hyeok showed some daring breakthroughs right after being brought on, but he did not create a decisive difference.

Ultimately, Korea had to be satisfied with a draw at home. The team opened the scoring just 5 minutes into the match when Lee Jae-sung finished Son Heung-min's corner kick with his left foot, marking another opening goal following the away match against Jordan last October.

However, a critical mistake held them back. In the 30th minute of the first half, Park Yong-woo lost the ball in midfield, granting an opportunity for a counterattack. Al-Naimat broke through the center, and Al-Tamari unleashed a threatening left-footed shot. While Jo Hyun-woo blocked the first shot, the rebound was converted into a goal by Al-Madli's turning shot.

Hong Myung-bo's team made several attacking substitutions, including Yang Min-hyeok, Yang Hyeon-jun, and Oh Se-hoon, in hopes of scoring again, but their efforts were in vain. Seol Young-woo delivered several sharp crosses from the side, but unfortunately, none found their mark. A central region killer pass that could lead to a quick confrontation with the goalkeeper was desperately needed. The game ended in a 1-1 draw.

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