South Korea enter the 2026 FIFA World Cup as one of many strongest groups in Asia. Their predominant offensive weapon is LAFC star Son Heung-min, who’s on the verge of setting a historic file, in keeping with Manchester United legend Park Ji-sung.
“Son Heung-min has damaged many data. I believe he’ll turn out to be the Korean participant who scores probably the most targets on the World Cup this time as nicely,” Park Ji-sung mentioned in a current interview shared by Chosun. “Many individuals consider that he’ll rating on this World Cup. He’ll present performances that meet these expectations.”
Son is the most-capped participant within the historical past of the nationwide group, with 142 appearances since 2010, and North America 2026 will mark his fourth World Cup. Throughout his earlier three appearances — in 2014, 2018, and 2022 — he recorded 10 matches and three targets, inserting him among the many nation’s all-time main World Cup scorers.
Proper now, Son shares the file for many World Cup targets by a South Korea participant alongside Park Ji-sung and Ahn Jung-hwan. Meaning if he scores a minimum of as soon as throughout this summer season’s match, the LAFC ahead will maintain the file outright.
Son Heung-min (L) talks with Park Ji-sung (R) as he’s awarded the Cheongnyong Medal previous to a world pleasant in 2022.
Park Ji-sung assured in Son’s management
In the identical interview, Park Ji-sung expressed confidence within the ahead’s management function. “Son Heung-min will turn out to be a participant with extra expertise than I had. He’ll face his second World Cup as captain. He isn’t a participant who wants my recommendation,” defined the 45-year-old former star, who represented Korea on the 2002, 2006, and 2010 World Cups.
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“I solely hope that, with out damage, in what could also be his final World Cup, he does what he desires with out remorse and returns with the very best outcomes,” Park added about Son. “I hope will probably be the happiest and most pleasing World Cup for him.”
The challenges forward for South Korea
After reaching a historic fourth-place end in 2002, South Korea have struggled to copy that success in later editions of the match. Actually, since then, their finest performances got here in 2010 and 2022, once they reached the Spherical of 16.
With the expanded 48-team format and an additional knockout spherical, they are going to probably have a greater probability of advancing this 12 months. South Korea are a part of Group A alongside Mexico, South Africa, and the Czech Republic. The Europeans shall be their first opponent of the match on June 11 at Estadio Akron in Guadalajara.
