![[Yonhap]](https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2026/06/12/news-p.v1.20260612.038ccec6502b4d71a0d11e867c86c003_P1.jpg)
Oh Hyun-gyu's go-ahead goal against Czech Republic in Group A of the 2026 North America World Cup — which handed South Korea its first win of the tournament — has brought renewed attention to his story from four years ago, when he traveled to Qatar as the squad's 27th man without an official jersey number.
The tvN variety program "You Quiz on the Block" posted a message on its official social media accounts Friday congratulating Oh on the milestone. "Four years ago, Oh Hyun-gyu promised he would come back to the World Cup with a jersey number — and he delivered," the show wrote. "Congratulations to Oh Hyun-gyu, 'Oh Seo-bang,' on his first World Cup goal and the comeback winner against Czech Republic."
Oh had appeared on episode 174 of "You Quiz on the Block" — the "With the Gods, National Team Jo Gyu-sung" edition — after the 2022 Qatar World Cup. Alongside its congratulatory post, the show shared a screenshot from that broadcast featuring the on-screen caption: "Come back in four years with your jersey number held high."
At the 2022 tournament, Oh joined the squad as a standby player — available for emergency substitution in case players including captain Son Heung-min were unable to play due to injury.
After the tournament, the squad members received prize money, but Oh was not on the final roster and was therefore ineligible. Moved by his situation, the other 26 players pooled their own money and gave him a share.
In an interview at the time, Oh said his teammates had looked out for him before he even had a chance to feel out of place. "They reached out to me first so I wouldn't feel small," he said. "I felt that the money was something they had earned through their own hard work, so I was truly grateful that they shared it with me." He added that while a chance to play might have been good for him personally, it would have meant a teammate getting hurt. "Honestly, I kept hoping the older guys would stay healthy and get to play," he said.
A diary entry he wrote at the time was also shared. In it, he wrote: "I just need to prepare for the next four years and come back with my jersey number, head held high. You can do it, Hyun-gyu. This is just the beginning."
![[Yonhap]](https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2026/06/12/news-p.v1.20260612.6161160f00a34836b1a484a1b501251e_P1.jpg)
Having been listed only as a standby player four years ago, Oh took the field this time wearing No. 18. Brought on in the 69th minute as a substitute for captain Son Heung-min, he needed just 11 minutes to make his mark — scoring the go-ahead goal in the 80th minute.
After the match, Oh struggled to put his emotions into words. "There are no words to describe what I'm feeling," he said. "Honestly, I was in really bad shape before the game today. My fever climbed to 38 degrees Celsius and I kept wondering whether I'd even be able to play."
He added that simply playing in a World Cup was already more than he could have asked for. "Just being on the pitch at a World Cup is something to be moved by and grateful for," he said. "The manager gave me the opportunity, I scored and we won — as a striker, I'm just relieved and thankful."
![Son Heung-min and Oh Hyun-gyu embrace [Yonhap]](https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2026/06/12/news-p.v1.20260612.6d42c0292c5a4553afe27e4d84283d8d_P1.jpg)
On the broadcast four years ago, fellow striker Jo Gyu-sung recalled serving alongside Oh during their mandatory military service at Gimcheon Sangmu. "We played together up front a lot at Sangmu," Jo said. "I think he is absolutely good enough to play on the World Cup stage."
Jo also spoke to Oh's character and work ethic. "I've watched him up close, and he puts in a strong amount of effort — I've always thought he was a truly talented player," he said. "He didn't make the final roster, but he made the decision to go along with the team anyway, and I thought that was really admirable."
ygmoon@heraldcorp.com
