Analyst sees World Cup experience, altitude adaptation as advantages; aerial duels, starting lineup cohesion raise concerns

Lee Young-pyo, a KBS analyst for the 2026 FIFA North America World Cup [Yonhap]
Lee Young-pyo, a KBS analyst for the 2026 FIFA North America World Cup [Yonhap]

KBS analyst Lee Young-pyo predicted South Korea will advance from its group as the second-place finisher at the 2026 North America World Cup.

Lee, a national team legend and a key figure in South Korea's run to the 2002 World Cup semifinals, has been a commentator since 2014, earning a reputation for sharp analysis and accurate match predictions.

Visiting the national team's training session Monday at Chivas Valle Verde in Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico, Lee said the most realistic scenario was Mexico topping Group A, buoyed by recent form, home advantage and one-sided crowd support. "South Korea has a very good chance of finishing second in the group," he said. "If that happens, it would be a very solid start."

Lee identified winning the opening match as the single most important factor for a smooth run through the group stage. "Taking three points in the first game will determine 80 to 90 percent of the team's overall result," he said. "If our players perform to their ability, we have every reason to believe we can win."

South Korea national team forward Lee Kang-in trains at Chivas Valle Verde in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, on Monday. [Yonhap]
South Korea national team forward Lee Kang-in trains at Chivas Valle Verde in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, on Monday. [Yonhap]

South Korea, coached by Hong Myung-bo, opens its group-stage campaign against Czech Republic at Guadalajara Stadium on Friday at 11 a.m. Korean Standard Time. Lee said the pressure of not winning the opener would compound quickly. "If we fail to win the first game, the burden grows with each match that follows," he said. "Czech Republic, in effect our main rival for second place, will be in a very similar position."

Lee assessed South Korea as holding the edge over Czech Republic in World Cup experience and altitude acclimatization. "Czech Republic is back at the World Cup for the first time in 20 years, and most of their players will be making their debut on this stage — we have far more experience," he said. "Our players also started training on-site earlier, so they should be better adapted to the conditions."

However, Lee said Czech Republic held the advantage in the air, warning that South Korea must limit set-piece opportunities against a side that poses a serious aerial threat from corners and free kicks. "How center backs Kim Min-jae and Lee Han-beom handle crosses will also be crucial," he added.

Lee also raised concerns about starting lineup cohesion, noting that most teams use pre-tournament friendlies to sharpen their best eleven and build chemistry. "We kept testing different combinations right up to the end," he said. "There are questions about whether the first-choice lineup will be fully in sync from the first whistle."


yjc@heraldcorp.com