Hong Myung-bo announced the final 26-man roster for the Republic of Korea national soccer team that will compete in the 2026 Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) North and Central American World Cup.
The Korea Football Association held an event at 4 p.m. on the 16th in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, to announce the final roster for the World Cup finals. Held as a public event with fans, this announcement revealed Hong Myung-bo's plan for the World Cup finals.
For attackers responsible for scoring, O Hyun-kyu (Beşiktaş), Son Heung-min (LAFC), Jo Gyu-seong (Midtjylland) were selected. Midfielders assigned to the center include Yang Hyun-jun (Celtic), Baek Seung-ho (Birmingham), Hwang In-beom (Feyenoord), Kim Jin-kyu (Jeonbuk Hyundai), Bae Jun-ho (Stoke City), Eom Ji-seong (Swansea City), Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton), Lee Dong-gyeong (Ulsan HD), Lee Jae-sung (Mainz), Lee Kang-in (PSG).
In defense, Kim Min-jae (FC Bayern Munich), Jo Yoo-min (Sharjah), Lee Han-beom (Midtjylland), Kim Tae-hyun (Kashima), Park Jin-seop (Zhejiang), Lee Ki-hyuk (Gangwon), Lee Tae-seok (Austria Wien), Seol Young-woo (Red Star Belgrade), Jens Castrop (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Kim Moon-hwan (Daejeon) boarded the team. Goalkeeping duties will be handled by Jo Hyun-woo (Ulsan HD), Kim Seung-gyu (Tokyo), Song Bum-geun (Jeonbuk Hyundai).
Hong Myung-bo appears to have paid attention to selecting joker players who can change the course of a match while maintaining the existing team cohesion. Given the World Cup's nature and the high utilization of bench players, the selection is seen as a composition that considered various plans.
The national team will immediately enter the final preparation phase right after the roster announcement. The primary contingent, including Hong Myung-bo and the coaching staff, will depart for the United States on the 18th, and players will join sequentially after their club commitments conclude.
The national team will hold a pre-tournament camp in Salt Lake City, United States, for about two weeks. They will also play two friendly matches there. The Korea Football Association said Salt Lake City was chosen to adapt to high-altitude conditions similar to Guadalajara, Mexico, the host city for the first and second group-stage matches.
Korea will then move to the Guadalajara base camp on June 5. Placed in Group A of the group stage, Korea will face the Czech Republic, Mexico, and the Republic of South Africa in sequence. The first match is against the Czech Republic on June 12.
Additionally, Kang Sang-yun, Jo Wi-je (both Jeonbuk Hyundai), and Yoon Ki-uk (FC Seoul) will join as training partners.
2026 FIFA North and Central American World Cup Republic of Korea final 26-man roster
GK: Jo Hyun-woo (Ulsan HD), Kim Seung-gyu (FC Tokyo), Song Bum-geun (Jeonbuk Hyundai)
DF: Kim Min-jae (FC Bayern Munich), Jo Yoo-min (Sharjah), Lee Han-beom (Midtjylland), Kim Tae-hyun (Kashima), Park Jin-seop (Zhejiang), Lee Ki-hyuk (Gangwon), Lee Tae-seok (Austria Wien), Seol Young-woo (Red Star Belgrade), Jens Castrop (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Kim Moon-hwan (Daejeon)
MF: Yang Hyun-jun (Celtic), Baek Seung-ho (Birmingham), Hwang In-beom (Feyenoord), Kim Jin-kyu (Jeonbuk Hyundai), Bae Jun-ho (Stoke City), Eom Ji-seong (Swansea City), Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton), Lee Dong-gyeong (Ulsan HD), Lee Jae-sung (Mainz), Lee Kang-in (PSG)
FW: O Hyun-kyu (Beşiktaş), Son Heung-min (LAFC), Jo Gyu-seong (Midtjylland)
Training partners: Kang Sa-yun, Jo Wi-je (both Jeonbuk Hyundai), Yoon Ki-uk (FC Seoul)<
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