Kim Do-hoon, interim coach of the Korean national soccer team, will announce the list of players who will play in the second Asian qualifying round for the 2026 North-Central America World Cup. Attention is focusing on whether players who have never had ties with the national team or who used to be selected by the national soccer team in the past will be able to receive a surprise opportunity under the interim coach Kim. In particular, soccer fans are paying keen attention to Lee Seung-woo (Suwon FC), who has been performing well this season.
Earlier on the 21st, the Korea Football Association said, “We will announce the list of the national soccer team that will play in the second round of Asian qualifiers for the 2026 North and Central America World Cup by the morning of the 27th.” Interim coach Kim will announce it through a press release, not a separate press conference. As a result, there will be no separate question-and-answer session by interim coach Kim related to the call-up of players.
Given that it has been only a week since interim coach Kim took the helm of the national soccer team, the prevailing view in the soccer community is that there will be no significant change in the list of call-ups compared to last March. It is highly likely that European players, including captain Son Heung-min (Tottenham Hotspur), Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich), Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain), and Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton Wanderers), who have played as the main players, will be at the center.
However, as the head coach has changed, there is a possibility that some changes will be made. Players who fit interim coach Kim’s tactical style or who have recently impressed him with his good performance can join the board in a surprise move. Lee Seung-woo, Bae Joon-ho (Stock City), Won Doo-jae (Kim Cheon Sang-moo), Oh Se-hoon (Machida Gelvia), Choi Joon (FC Seoul), and Hwang Jae-won (Daegu FC) are mentioned.
The biggest concern among fans is Lee Seung-woo. Since June 2019, Lee has become distant from the national flag. Former coach Paulo Bento (Portugal), who took the helm of the Korean national soccer team in August 2018, had called up Lee from time to time but has not called up since September 2019. He was then completely ignored by former coaches Jurgen Klinsmann (Germany) and Hwang Sun-hong.
Lee has constantly accumulated offensive points despite playing on the ground for a short period of time, as he has been deployed as a substitute in the second half of this season. He had six goals and two assists in 11 matches (three starts). Notably, he has scored three goals in three matches (one start) this month alone. The second-tier Korean national soccer team is currently in fierce competition, as it is considered one of the best in history, but if Lee shows good performance recently, he has a chance to be selected.
Attention is focusing on whether Bae Joon-ho, who showed good performance in European leagues last summer, will be wearing the national flag. Bae was recognized as the biggest contributor to Stoke’s stay, scoring two goals and six assists during 40 official matches in the first season of his transfer. He was selected as the player of the year by fans. Considering his experiences as a national soccer team player by age, performance and skills, he can be selected by interim coach Kim.
With right fullback Seol Young-woo (Ulsan HD), a key member of the national soccer team, having to leave the team due to shoulder surgery, there is a possibility that players who are performing well in the K-League, including Choi Joon and Hwang Jae-won, will raise a surprise national flag. In addition, Won Doo-jae, who played as a mainstay when interim coach Kim was at the helm of Ulsan HD, and Oh Se-hoon, who scored six goals in 15 games this season, are emerging as holding midfielder and striker options, respectively.
The Korean national soccer team, led by interim coach Kim, will play two Group C matches (against Singapore on June 6 and China on June 11) for the second Asian qualifying round for the 2026 North-China World Cup. After the announcement of the list of players to be convened today, the team plans to depart Korea through Incheon International Airport on June 2. To help interim coach Kim, senior coaches Park Geon-ha, Choi Sung-yong and Cho Yong-hyung joined the coaching staff. 스포츠토토
“It was true that I felt burdened when I first received the offer. However, I accepted the offer to help the Korean soccer team a little bit,” interim coach Kim said. “I don’t have enough time, but I will do my best in the circumstances given. I will help the players show their strengths on the ground. I will do my best to prepare well and bring good results.”