As a traditional Asian powerhouse, South Korea cruised through World Cup qualifying. They advanced from the second round as group winners, then finished second in their third-round group to secure direct qualification — achieving an undefeated qualifying campaign. Over the course of qualifying, South Korea scored 20 goals and conceded just 7, showcasing defensive solidity. Key players such as Son Heung-min and Lee Kang-in delivered strong performances. However, the team has shown inconsistency in warm-up matches — a 4-0 drubbing by Ivory Coast on March 28, 2026, followed by a 0-1 loss to Austria on April 1 — far from ideal form.

At this stage, this South Korean team is still Son Heung-min's team. The South Korean icon has now moved to MLS, and his speed and explosiveness are not what they once were. This World Cup is very likely to be his last on the global stage. Fortunately, Korean football has not completely withered around him.

At the back, Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich) is a world-class center-back, providing a defensive anchor. In midfield, Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain) brings technical elegance and passing quality, though his physicality and consistency remain areas for improvement. Up front, Hwang Hee-chan (Wolves) is the most reliable attacking threat alongside Son.

Tactically, South Korea's strengths remain work rate and physicality. Head coach Hong Myung-bo will likely stick with a pragmatic approach: defensive compactness with全员收缩, and rapid counter-attacks relying on the pace of Son and Hwang. But the problems are clear — lack of midfield creativity and struggles in breaking down settled defenses. When opponents sit deep and counter, South Korea often finds itself short of answers.

At the 2026 World Cup, South Korea has been drawn into Group A alongside hosts Mexico, Czech Republic, and South Africa. The group dynamics are relatively clear: Mexico is the favorite to advance, with South Korea and the Czech Republic battling for the other direct qualification spot. South Korea's primary objective is to finish in the top two. A win over South Africa and the Czech Republic, combined with a draw against Mexico, should see them advance as group runners-up. However, if their recent warm-up struggles carry over, they could miss out on the knockout stage entirely. Ultimately, the form of Son and several other key players will directly determine South Korea's fate.