South Korea World Cup 2026 Squad: All 26 Players, Form, and Group A Schedule

South Korea's 26-player World Cup 2026 roster is set. Coach Myung-Bo Hong announced the squad on May 16, and as of June 2, 2026, the final piece arrived: Lee Kang-In touched down at the Giants Bank Training Center in Herriman, Utah after completing PSG's Champions League final obligations . But the squad also absorbed a late blow. Cho Yu-Min was ruled out with a foot injury sustained after the 5-0 friendly win over Trinidad and Tobago, replaced by Cho Wi-je .

This is the complete roster — every player, their club, their national-team form over the last 12 months, and the full Group A schedule for South Korea (as of June 2, 2026).

The late swap: Cho Wi-je's fairytale call-up

Cho Wi-je was playing in South Korea's second division as recently as January (as of June 2, 2026). He was at Busan IPark in K League 2 before joining Jeonbuk at the start of the year . Now he is going to a World Cup.

He described the call-up as "like a dream," saying he would never have believed it possible a year ago . That is the kind of story World Cups produce. A center-back goes from the second tier to the biggest stage in six months.

Cho Yu-Min had 957 NT minutes in the trailing 12 months across 12 appearances . Replacing that experience at short notice is not straightforward. Kim Min-Jae and Seol Young-Woo will carry the defensive load (as of June 2, 2026).

The full 26-player roster

Goalkeepers

Defenders

Midfielders

Forwards

All trailing-12-month figures via API-Football and Fox Sports data, refreshed daily .

Key players to watch

Son Heung-Min is the captain and the talisman. He has 10 national-team goals in the last 12 months across 19 appearances . Now based at LAFC, he enters the tournament on home soil — or close to it. His 14 club goals and 9 assists in 19 club appearances over the same window show no decline in output (as of June 2, 2026).

Lee Kang-In is the creative engine. Eight assists in 21 NT appearances tell the story . He arrived late in camp after PSG's Champions League final commitments, but he is the player who makes South Korea tick in possession.

Oh Hyeon-Gyu may be the breakout name. Six NT goals in 485 minutes is a sharp conversion rate. At club level with Beşiktaş, he has been prolific — 16 goals in 45 appearances over the trailing 12 months . If he starts, he gives South Korea a different dimension alongside Son (as of June 2, 2026).

Kim Min-Jae anchors the backline. Bayern München's center-back has 1,061 NT minutes across 13 appearances in the window . With Cho Yu-Min out, his partnership with Seol Young-Woo (1,241 NT mins, 18 apps) becomes the spine of the defense (as of June 2, 2026).

Hwang In-Beom is the concern. The Feyenoord midfielder has logged 1,249 NT minutes — second-highest among South Korea's outfield players — but he is listed with an ankle injury of unknown return date heading into the tournament . If he misses time, Lee Jae-Sung (1,136 NT mins, 5 goals, 3 assists) and Paik Seung-Ho step up (as of June 2, 2026).

Recent form: 9 wins, 4 losses, 1 draw

South Korea's last 14 matches produced a 9-1-4 record, 25 goals scored, 13 conceded (as of June 2, 2026).

Recent results:

The pattern is clear. South Korea are strong against mid-ranked sides and competitive against fellow World Cup teams — the 2-0 win in the USA stands out. But the Ivory Coast (0-4) and Brazil (0-5) results expose a vulnerability against physical, high-pressing opposition. Austria's 1-0 win in March was another reminder that elite European sides can cause problems (as of June 2, 2026).

The 5-0 rout of Trinidad and Tobago in their final friendly was a confidence-builder, but Group A will be a different level.

Group A schedule

South Korea are in Group A with Mexico, South Africa, and the Czech Republic .

The opener against the Czech Republic is the one South Korea will target. A win there, and the path to the knockout rounds opens. Mexico at home in Zapopan on matchday 2 is the toughest draw. South Africa on matchday 3 could be the decider.

Two of three matches are in Zapopan. One in Guadalupe. The squad is based in the Americas, with Son already at LAFC. Travel will not be a factor.

What to expect from South Korea

This is a squad built around a clear hierarchy. Son scores. Lee Kang-In creates. Kim Min-Jae defends. Jo Hyeon-Woo, with 1,458 NT minutes and 17 appearances, is a reliable presence in goal (as of June 2, 2026).

The depth behind that core is solid, not spectacular. Oh Hyeon-Gyu's club form is electric, but his NT sample is small. The defensive reshuffle after Cho Yu-Min's injury introduces uncertainty. Hwang In-Beom's ankle is the lingering question mark.

But 9 wins in 14 matches is real momentum. And Son Heung-Min at a World Cup is always worth watching (as of June 2, 2026).

When does South Korea play their first World Cup 2026 match?

South Korea open Group A against the Czech Republic on June 11 at Estadio Akron in Zapopan . Their second match is against Mexico on June 18 at the same venue, and they close the group stage against South Africa on June 24 at Estadio BBVA in Guadalupe.

Who are the key players in South Korea's World Cup 2026 squad?

Son Heung-Min leads the attack with 10 national-team goals in the last 12 months . Lee Kang-In is the primary creator with 8 NT assists in 21 appearances. Kim Min-Jae anchors the defense from Bayern München, and Jo Hyeon-Woo is the established first-choice goalkeeper with 1,458 NT minutes (as of June 2, 2026).

What happened to Cho Yu-Min?

Cho Yu-Min was ruled out of the World Cup squad with a foot injury sustained after South Korea's 5-0 friendly win over Trinidad and Tobago . He was replaced by Cho Wi-je, a 24-year-old center-back who was playing in South Korea's second division (K League 2) as recently as January .

How did South Korea perform in their pre-World Cup friendlies?

South Korea posted a 9-1-4 record across their last 14 matches, scoring 25 goals and conceding 13 . They beat the USA 2-0 away and drew 2-2 with Mexico, but suffered heavy losses to Brazil (0-5) and Ivory Coast (0-4). Their final warm-up was a 5-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago (as of June 2, 2026).

Why is Hwang In-Beom a concern for South Korea?

Hwang In-Beom is South Korea's second-most-used midfielder in the trailing 12 months with 1,249 NT minutes across 17 appearances, but he is listed with an ankle injury of unknown return date heading into the tournament . If he cannot play, Lee Jae-Sung and Paik Seung-Ho are the likely replacements in central midfield (as of June 2, 2026).

See the projected squad
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