Son Heung-min to appear in fourth World Cup as South Korea names squad

South Korea named its 26-player World Cup squad Friday, with captain Son Heung-min, 33, set to compete in his fourth FIFA World Cup, according to The Korea Times.

The announcement marks South Korea's 11th consecutive World Cup appearance and comes as the first-ever expanded 48-nation tournament opens June 11 across host countries including the United States, drawing broad attention from Korean-American fans nationwide.

Head Coach Hong Myung-bo announced the roster at a press conference in Seoul on Friday, naming three forwards, 10 midfielders, 10 defenders and three goalkeepers, with three additional training partners also designated to aid preparation, according to The Korea Times. Thirteen of the 26 players are set to make their World Cup debuts.

Son Heung-min, who plays for LAFC in Major League Soccer, will become only the fourth South Korean player to compete in four World Cups. The captain was selected alongside Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Lee Kang-in and Bayern Munich defender Kim Min-jae, the squad's most prominent European-based talents.

Jens Castrop, 22, of Borussia Mönchengladbach becomes the first player of mixed heritage born outside South Korea to be named to a South Korean World Cup squad, The Korea Times reported. Stoke City midfielder Bae Jun-ho, also 22, is among the younger inclusions, while Kim Seung-gyu, 35, of FC Tokyo is the oldest member of the group.

South Korea was drawn into Group A alongside host nation Mexico, Czechia and South Africa. All three group-stage matches will be held in Mexico — in Guadalajara and Monterrey — with Guadalajara situated at an altitude of approximately 1,500 meters, according to The Korea Times.

"I am convinced that the players that we've selected have the experience and abilities necessary to play at the World Cup," Hong said at the press conference, according to The Korea Times. "We have always been underdogs at World Cups and this year's tournament will be a good opportunity for us to stage an upset."

On the three training partners, Hong added: "We wanted these players to experience firsthand what it takes to train for the national team," The Korea Times reported.

The squad will hold altitude training in Salt Lake City at 1,500 meters elevation before competition begins. South Korea's 11th consecutive World Cup campaign opens in the group stage, with the full tournament running June 11 through July 19, 2026.