South Korea’s World Cup squad features record-low K League representation
The 2026 FIFA World Cup contingent marks the lowest number of K League-based players in South Korean history, matching the 2014 squad size as the team prepares for pre-tournament friendlies in the United States.
South Korea head coach Hong Myung-bo has finalised a 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico, with only six players drawn from the domestic K League. This selection represents the joint-lowest number of domestic-based players in a South Korean World Cup squad since records began, equaling the six selected in 2014, when Hong also served as head coach.
The six K League players included in the final roster are goalkeepers Jo Hyeon-woo and Song Bum-keun, defenders Kim Moon-hwan of Daejeon Hana Citizen and Lee Gi-hyeok of Gangwon FC, and midfielders Lee Dong-gyeong and Kim Jin-gyu, both from Ulsan. Historically, South Korea has relied more heavily on its domestic league, with the highest number of K League players in a squad reaching 20 in 1998, followed by 18 in 1986 and another 20 in 1998. The average across 11 World Cup squads is 13.8 players, with the 2002 tournament seeing 14 domestic players selected.
Beyond the core 26, the squad includes additional personnel to manage training and potential injuries. Jeonbuk players Kang Sang-yoon and Cho Wi-je have been named as training members and will travel with the team to Salt Lake City for two friendly matches. They will remain on standby to replace players in their specific positions should injuries occur.
FC Seoul goalkeeper Yoon Gi-wook has been called up as an extra goalkeeper to assist with training sessions, a role requested by goalkeeping coach Yang Young-min to ensure effective session management. Yoon was chosen ahead of Pohang’s Lee Seung-hwan, with the selection aimed at providing younger age-group national team experience at the senior level. Yoon, part of the U21 setup, will travel to Mexico and stay with the squad until just before the tournament begins, whereas Lee Seung-hwan has been with the U23s.
The first part of the squad departed for Salt Lake City on Monday, 18 May, ahead of friendlies against Trinidad and Tobago on 30 May and El Salvador on 3 June. Europe-based players are expected to arrive in the US from mid-to-late May, depending on their club schedules, before the squad relocates to its World Cup base in Guadalajara, Mexico, on 5 June. For injuries in positions other than goalkeeper, replacements will be drawn from the FIFA preliminary 55-man squad.
