The return of the Taeguk Warriors: What to know about Korea's World Cup campaign

The wait is almost over. In a week’s time, the Korean national football team will take the pitch in the FIFA World Cup 2026 with millions of fans back home cheering the side on in pursuit of glory on the biggest stage in sports.

The likes of Son Heung-min, Kim Min-jae and Lee Kang-in will hope to inspire the Taeguk Warriors through to the knockout stages of a massively expanded format, with the addition of 16 berths bringing the total number of competing nations to 48 in a tournament set to span 39 days, from the opening match kickoff on June 11 to the raising of the trophy on July 19.

The teams will be divided into 12 groups of four, playing matches across three different host nations — Canada, Mexico and the United States. The top two sides in each group automatically advance to the round of 32, joined by the eight best third-place teams, decided by points, goal difference, goals scored, disciplinary record and finally by the most recent FIFA rankings.

At the center of the festivities, or at least the center of the pitch at kickoff, is the official match ball for this World Cup, the Adidas Trionda. With a new ball comes new technology: sensors embedded in the heavily textured surface will send real-time data to match officials. The four-paneled ball, whose name means “three waves” in Spanish, is adorned with colors and emblems representing the three host nations.

Kickoff on June 11

Co-host Mexico will take on South Africa in the World Cup opener at 1 p.m. at Mexico City Stadium in Mexico on June 11.

The showdown will be followed by a match between fellow Group A sides Korea and the Czech Republic at Guadalajara Stadium in Guadalajara, Mexico, at 8 p.m., at an altitude of 1,571 meters, nearly a mile up.

The Czech Republic are returning to the World Cup stage for the first time in 20 years after a 3-1 victory in the European qualifying playoff against Denmark.

On paper, the Taeguk Warriors would appear to be ever-so-slight favorites, 21 spots above the European side in the FIFA rankings at No. 22.

In reality, however, the contest is likely to be much closer than the elementary metric would suggest: In its five previous matches against the Czech Republic, Korea has lost twice and won once, with two draws.

Theoretically, Korea appears to hold an edge.

However, in reality, underdogs often rise to the challenge. In its five previous matches against the Czech Republic, Korea has lost twice and won once. The two nations have tied twice.

Road to the knockout stage

While Korea may not be particularly enthused to play at such a high altitude, at least they don’t have to move for their second match, taking on co-host Mexico at the same venue at 8 p.m. on June 18.

Picking up at least a point would put Korea in a strong position to advance to the knockout stages, and a second win on the trot could theoretically seal a berth in the round of 32 already.

For the final group match, the Warriors will have to decamp to Monterrey, Mexico, to take on South Africa at 8 a.m. on June 24. While the Bafana Bafana are the weakest side on paper, this is the World Cup, after all (as Portugal, Spain and Italy were reminded by Korea in 2002), and it’s all to play for.

Who’s wearing the red?

Manager Hong Myung-bo, leading the national team for a second World Cup (his last go ended rather ignominiously, finishing dead last in Group H in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil with a solitary point), announced his 26-man squad on May 16.

To no one’s surprise, talisman Son Heung-min will lead the charge in what is likely his last World Cup, hoping to find his old spark after a loss of goal-scoring form at Los Angeles FC this year. Other obvious call-ups were Bayern Munich defender Kim Min-jae and Paris Saint-Germain’s Lee Kang-in, fresh off a silverware-laden season that included Ligue 1 and Champions League medals.

Likely to anchor the midfield are veterans Lee Jae-sung of Mainz 05 and Feyenoord’s Hwang In-beom, who made the cut despite injury concerns.

Other call-ups included Jens Castrop of Borussia Dortmund, hoping to build on his seven caps and build up his profile as the first foreign-born man of mixed heritage to wear the red of Korea. Among the surprise inclusions were defender Lee Gi-hyuk of Gangwon FC and midfielder Lee Dong-gyeong of Ulsan Hyundai.

The Warriors will take the pitch adorned in Nike-made armor designed to invoke the concept of an “ambush” by a white tiger, the symbol of the Korean Football Association. While the home kit maintains the familiar red, the away kit went in an entirely new direction. Gone are the blue or white of World Cups gone by, making way for a violet theme with echoes of the mugunghwa — the purple-hued national flower.

In the biggest edition of the greatest show in sports, the national team will hope to storm through the group stage with a whirlwind run — and spur pandemonium in the streets back home.

BY LEE SOO-JUNG [[email protected]]