South Korea ready to their 12th World Cup
Head coach Hong Myung-bo has unveiled the final roster of 26 players who will represent South Korea at the 2026 World Cup. As expected, Son Heung-min, now with LAFC following his successful stint at Tottenham, will lead the team in his fourth World Cup, tying the record for most appearances held by several legendary South Korean players.
The roster balances top European stars such as Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich), Lee Kang-in (PSG), and Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton) with players from the K-League and lower-tier leagues. Hong emphasized that all those called up will be “responsible for their performance” and that the goal is to advance past the group stage against Mexico (host), the Czech Republic, and South Africa.
This is one of the most experienced teams in Asia in recent years. Son, with more than 140 international appearances, remains the offensive leader despite his club change. Expectations are high following the round of 16 run at Qatar 2022. South Korea will play warm-up friendlies in the U.S. before its World Cup debut in June.
And another loss to Cristiano... Gamba celebrates
In a thrilling final held on May 16 at King Saud University Stadium, Gamba Osaka defeated Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr 1-0 to lift the 2025/26 AFC Champions League Two trophy. Hümmet’s goal in the 30th minute was enough for the Japanese side to celebrate their first major continental success.
The result secures Gamba Osaka a spot in the preliminary round of next season’s ACL Elite. For Al-Nassr, despite their investment and star-studded roster, it marks yet another disappointment in Asian competitions.