South Korea Coach Hong Myung-bo Names Squad Aiming to Secure Early World Cup Qualification

South Korea's national soccer team head coach, Hong Myung-bo, has named an expanded roster of 28 players for upcoming World Cup qualifying matches scheduled later this month. These critical fixtures will see the South Korean squad, commonly known as the Taeguk Warriors, compete on home soil against Oman and Jordan in their journey towards securing a place at the prestigious global tournament for the 11th time in a row.

Currently perched atop Group B in Asian World Cup qualifying, South Korea could secure one of the two automatic qualification spots as early as their next pair of matches. Victories against Oman on March 20 in Goyang and Jordan on March 25 in Suwon would notably clinch their spot at the World Cup finals with two matches still left to play. Coach Hong expressed his desire to wrap up qualification early so that the team could then dedicate its scheduling towards playing challenging friendlies against strong European sides.

However, Hong remains cautious and recognizes the unpredictability of the matches, stating during a press conference that, although the goal is to qualify promptly, the pressures and uncertainties in football mean this scenario may not easily unfold. He emphasized that, irrespective of results, the coaching staff intends to ensure players remain comfortable, confident, and unaffected by excessive expectations or stress.

promoting healthy competition for starting positions and safeguarding the team's strength since six players risk suspension if booked with a yellow card in the upcoming match against Oman.

Another notable call-up is winger Yang Hyun-jun, who returns to the international stage for the first time since the Asian Cup last year, owing to his strong performances in a limited role for Scottish club Celtic. Hong praised Yang’s growth, noting that the young winger has successfully managed to leave a significant impact during his relatively minimal time on the pitch recently.

In terms of standings, South Korea currently leads Group B with 14 points, three points ahead of second-place Iraq. Jordan, South Korea’s second opponent in the upcoming qualifiers, sits third with nine points, while Oman trails in fourth place with six points. The top two teams from each group automatically qualify for the upcoming World Cup in North America, while teams finishing third and fourth must navigate further rounds of challenging qualifying matches in Asia.