South Korea captain Son Heung-min waves during a training session at Chivas Valle Verde in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, on Wednesday, a day before the team's Group A opener against the Czech Republic at the 2026 World Cup. [Yonhap]
South Korea captain Son Heung-min waves during a training session at Chivas Valle Verde in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, on Wednesday, a day before the team's Group A opener against the Czech Republic at the 2026 World Cup. [Yonhap]

South Korea have unveiled their starting lineup for their 2026 World Cup Group A opener against the Czech Republic.

Coach Hong Myung-bo's side take on the Czech Republic at Estadio Akron in Zapopan, Guadalajara, Mexico, at 11 a.m. Friday (Korea Standard Time).

South Korea will operate a 3-4-2-1 formation.

Captain Son Heung-min of LAFC leads the attack as the lone striker. Behind him, Lee Jae-sung (Mainz) and Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain) occupy the two attacking midfield slots, with Hwang In-beom (Feyenoord) and Baek Seung-ho (Birmingham City) partnering in central midfield. Lee Tae-seok (Austria Wien) is expected to patrol the left flank while Seol Young-woo (Crvena zvezda) covers the right, with both wingbacks expected to contribute actively in both directions.

The three-man backline consists of Lee Gi-hyeok (Gangwon FC), Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich) and Lee Han-beom (Midtjylland). Lee Gi-hyeok drew widespread attention as a surprise inclusion in the final World Cup squad and will make his international debut against the Czech Republic.

Kim Seung-gyu (FC Tokyo) guards the goal. The veteran goalkeeper, praised for his composure with the ball at his feet, starts at a second consecutive World Cup, having also been the first-choice keeper at the 2022 Qatar World Cup.

Hong opted to deploy Son as a center forward rather than on the wing. Analysts attribute the decision to his assessment that Son poses a greater threat in that role than other striker options such as Oh Hyeon-gyu and Cho Gue-sung.

Meanwhile, in the other Group A match played earlier, host nation Mexico beat South Africa 2-0 to move to the top of the group standings.

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