The Key to South Korea's Seamless Road to the 2026 World Cup

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - South Korea has secured a spot in the 2026 World Cup. South Korea's National Team Coach, Hong Myung-bo, praised his players after closing the third-round Asian zone qualification with a convincing 4-0 victory over Kuwait at the World Cup Stadium in Seoul on Tuesday, June 10.

South Korea dominated and eliminated the team led by Juan Antonio Pizzi, thanks to goals from Jeon Jin-woo, Lee Kang-in, Oh Hyeon-gyu, and Lee Jae-sung. This result concluded the qualification stage undefeated with 22 points from 10 matches.

For Hong, the performance confirmed South Korea's dominance and provided a glimpse into the team's future. "This was a really important match for the national team going forward," said Hong Myung-bo, as quoted from the AFC.

South Korea had played several friendly matches before the World Cup. He said the match against Kuwait was a great opportunity for young players to gain experience. "And they played so much better than I'd expected," said Hong.

Hong, who took over the team's leadership after South Korea's elimination in the 2023 Asia Cup semifinals, has introduced new faces into the squad. He believes that combining young and experienced players will play a crucial role in the team's development.

Hong assessed that no one can predict what will happen in the coming year. He has not even prepared the starting lineup for the World Cup. "Some of the veteran guys should still form the core of our team, and the key is for some good young players to step up and support those veterans. In that regard, the way we competed today was extremely encouraging," he said.

Hong added, "Over the past year or so, I've been able to learn the tendencies of my players and build strong relationships with them. I've been able to lay groundwork on where we should go and how we should prepare for the World Cup."

Meanwhile, Kuwait ended their World Cup qualification campaign at the bottom of the group. Coach Pizzi acknowledged the quality of his opponents but praised his players' determination. He said the superiority was evident. There was a significant difference between the two teams. His team tried hard to tie the game.

According to Pizzi, after Kuwait managed to cause some trouble, the South Korean players found space and connected in quick passing plays. Furthermore, the South Korean players were very clinical in their finishing. He appreciates the efforts of the players who tried to compete with South Korea. He claims his team is the best in the world.

Editor's Choice: 2025 FIFA Club World Cup Kicks Off on June 14

Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News

Indonesia's U-17 Team Embarks on 5-Month Training Ahead of World Cup

1 jam lalu

2025 FIFA Club World Cup Kicks Off on June 14

1 hari lalu

Messi, Mbapp Among World Cup Champions Competing in 2025 FIFA Club World Cup

1 hari lalu

Get to Know the 5 Indonesian National Team's Opponents in the 4th Round of World Cup Qualifiers

1 hari lalu

South Korea Halts Anti-North Propaganda Broadcasts in a De-escalation Bid

1 hari lalu

Daichi Kamada Highlights Quality Gap Between Indonesian and Australian National Teams

1 hari lalu

2026 World Cup Qualifiers Recap: Argentina Draws, Brazil Wins

1 hari lalu

List of 13 Countries That Have Qualified for 2026 World Cup So Far

1 hari lalu

2026 World Cup Qualifiers: Asia Zone Fourth Round Schedule and Pot Breakdown

2 hari lalu

10 Most Technologically Advanced Countries: South Korea, Japan, and More

2 hari lalu