TEAM SCHEDULE AT THE WORLD CUP
12 appearances. Best finish: Fourth place.
South Korea is a 12-time World Cup participant; fourth place at the 2002 home World Cup (co-hosted with Japan) is Asia's best-ever result. At the 2026 World Cup, South Korea plays in Group A against Mexico, the Czech Republic, and South Africa. Head coach Hong Myung-bo (since July 2024, his second stint) is a Korean football legend — the captain of that 2002 side. The captain and star is 34-year-old Son Heung-min (LAFC, having moved from Tottenham in 2025).
In 2002 in Korea and Japan, the South Korea team under Guus Hiddink achieved the impossible. In the round of 16 Korea beat Italy 2:1 in extra time — Ahn Jung-hwan's "golden goal." In the quarterfinal: Spain, on penalties 5:3 after 0:0 (Hong Myung-bo converted the decisive kick). In the semifinal: a 0:1 defeat to Germany, then fourth place. That tournament remains the central event in Korean football history; the 70-million-strong "Red Devils" supporters poured into the streets after every match.
Qualifying was comfortable, second place in the group. Son plays in the US league with LAFC — a plus for the tournament (time-zone and climate adaptation). In Group A the main rival is Mexico at its home Estadio Azteca; the matchup is on June 19 in Boston. Matches are in Toronto (the opener), Boston, and Los Angeles. Beyond the group, a possible knockout against Argentina or France — a callback to 2010, when Korea lost 1:2 to Uruguay.
---