South Korea's national soccer team is predicted to have a chance to finish first in its group in the CONCACAF World Cup group stage. While host Mexico is unsettled, South Korea is evaluated as the team with the most stable lineup.
Yahoo Sports in the United States on the 9th (Korea time) projected the group-stage landscape of the 2026 Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) CONCACAF World Cup and rated South Korea's chances of finishing first in Group A highly.
South Korea was drawn into Group A of the CONCACAF World Cup group stage with Mexico, the Czech Republic and South Africa. The national team will play its first group match against the Czech Republic on the 12th of next month in Guadalajara, Mexico. It will then face host Mexico on the 19th and play the final group match against South Africa on the 25th.
This Group A is evaluated as the most contested group among all groups in the tournament because there is no absolute powerhouse and each team has elements of instability.
Yahoo Sports also focused on this point. The outlet said, "Group A is the hardest group to predict among all groups in this tournament," and explained, "Host Mexico's defensive mainstay Álvarez underwent ankle surgery last month and injuries keep occurring. Also, they have not found a sure goalkeeper to follow Ochoa."
It added, "In this situation it is not easy to be confident that Mexico will finish first in the group," and evaluated, "If you had to name one candidate for first in Group A, South Korea looks the most likely."
Although Mexico enjoys the premium of being the host, its internal situation is chaotic. Friction continues in the process of managing the national team.
The Mexico national team began World Cup preparations on the 7th by prioritizing the call-up of players from Liga MX. They first summoned 12 players who play in the domestic league, including Guadalajara and Toluca, to check team cohesion.
But the process was not smooth. Toluca, facing the CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinal schedule, showed moves to refuse the early release of forward Vega and defender Gallardo to the national team. Guadalajara also tried to delay the joining of its players.
In the end the Mexican Football Federation took a tough stance. The federation publicly announced, "Players who do not attend the national team's dinner by 8 p.m. tonight will be excluded from the final World Cup roster," and the players then hurriedly joined the national team.
The fact that clashes occurred between the national team and clubs ahead of the World Cup means Mexico's internal atmosphere is by no means stable.
By contrast, South Korea is preparing for the tournament relatively stably. Coach Hong Myung-bo plans to announce the final World Cup roster on the 16th. After that, the national team will play a friendly against El Salvador on the 3rd of next month in Utah, United States, for a final check of readiness.
In particular, expectations are high because the performances of European-based players for South Korea have been steadily improving recently. It is evaluated that the experience and cohesion of key assets such as Son Heung-min, Lee Kang-in, Kim Min-jae and Hwang Hee-chan are coming together.
Above all, the result of the first group match against the Czech Republic is important. If they win the opening match, the burden of the second match against host Mexico could be greatly reduced. Conversely, Mexico's mood could also be shaken depending on its opening match result.
As the CONCACAF World Cup opening approaches, overseas assessments of the South Korea national team are also rising. With talk moving beyond advancing from the group to the possibility of finishing first, expectations for the Hong Myung-bo-led team are growing.
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