Latest news with #HongMyung-bo
Korea Herald
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Korea Herald
S. Korea coach, player bracing for difficult match vs. Iraq with World Cup berth in sight
With South Korea closing in on a berth in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, head coach Hong Myung-bo is trying to get his charges prepared for a difficult away match against Iraq. South Korea, world No. 23, will take on 59th-ranked Iraq in their penultimate Group B match in the third round of the Asian World Cup qualifiers. The match kicks off at 9:15 p.m. Thursday at Basra International Stadium in the southern Iraqi city of Basra, or 3:15 a.m. Friday, South Korean time. South Korea are leading Group B with 16 points, three ahead of Jordan with two matches to go. The top two teams from each of the three groups in this round will punch their tickets to the World Cup, and South Korea will grab one out of Group B with at least a draw against Iraq this week. Despite the sizable gap between the two nations in the FIFA rankings, Hong predicted a tough challenge for his team. "I don't think we will have an easy match. There will be challenges in every aspect," Hong said at a prematch presser at Basra International Stadium on Wednesday, according to a video clip released by the Korea Football Association to the South Korean media Thursday morning here. "As their coach, I trust my players. They've done a great job so far, and I expect them to play well tomorrow too. We will try to prepare for the match so that we will be able to grab points." South Korea defeated Iraq 3-2 at home in their previous meeting in October 2024. Midfielder Hwang In-beom echoed Hong's sentiment at the presser, and he too voiced confidence in his team's ability to rise to the occasion. "We've been working hard for this match because our World Cup qualification is at stake," Hwang said. "We are feeling some pressure because we will have to play an away match against a good Iraqi team. But we've been training hard as a team, and if we can show that on the field, then I believe we will be able to come away with a good result." The Taegeuk Warriors have played three consecutive 1-1 draws, including two against underdogs Oman and Jordan at home in March, when they had a chance to clinch a World Cup spot in front of their own supporters.
Shafaq News
15 hours ago
- Climate
- Shafaq News
Basra heat tests South Korea ahead of Iraq clash
Shafaq News/ South Korea's head coach Hong Myung-bo warned that soaring temperatures and rising pressure could pose major challenges in Thursday's World Cup qualifier against Iraq in Basra. 'This match won't be easy—we're feeling the pressure,' Hong told Shafaq News. 'We trust our players to perform. Everyone is ready, and we aim to take the three points.' The Group B clash at Basra International Stadium is expected to unfold under scorching 45°C heat, heightening physical strain on both squads. South Korea leads the group with 16 points and needs only a draw to clinch qualification for the 2026 World Cup, while Iraq sits third with 12 points and must win to keep its hopes for direct qualification alive. The match will also mark the debut of Iraq's new head coach Graham Arnold, appointed last month to replace Jesús Casas. South Korea will be without center-back Kim Min-jae, who opted out ahead of the Club World Cup. European-based players like Hwang In-beom (Feyenoord) and Lee Jae-sung (Mainz) are expected to feature prominently, while Iraq turns to striker Aymen Hussein and promising midfielder Ali Jasim to lead the attack. The teams last met in 2023, with South Korea securing a narrow 1–0 victory, making it the Koreans' sixth win against Iraq since 2006, with three draws and one defeat.
Korea Herald
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Korea Herald
K League's top scorer named to S. Korean squad on verge of World Cup qualification
The leading scorer in the South Korean league has earned his first national team call-up with the country on the verge of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Head coach Hong Myung-bo announced his 26-man squad on Monday for the Taegeuk Warriors' two remaining matches in Group B in the third round of the Asian World Cup qualifiers. Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors forward Jeon Jin-woo, who is leading the K League 1 with 10 goals this season, made the national team for the first time at age 25. He has never played for any national team in any age group. Thanks to his breakout performance, Jeon was voted the K League 1 Player of the Month for April. Jeon is the only player on this iteration of the team to be called up for the first time, though three players, including FC Midtjylland defender Lee Han-beom, are looking to collect their first cap after receiving call-ups for earlier matches. He is joined by some familiar faces, including captain Son Heung-min, fresh off a UEFA Europa League title with Tottenham Hotspur, and Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Lee Kang-in, whose French club will play in the UEFA Champions League final this weekend. Conspicuous by his absence on the backline is Bayern Munich center back Kim Min-jae, a longtime mainstay for South Korea. He has been battling an Achilles injury for most of the season and also missed two World Cup qualifiers in March. South Korea will face Iraq in the southern Iraqi city of Basra at 9:15 p.m. on June 5. Then South Korea will host Kuwait at Seoul World Cup Stadium at 8 p.m. on June 10. South Korea are leading their group with 16 points on four wins and four draws, three points ahead of Jordan. With the top two teams from each group punching their tickets to the World Cup, South Korea can clinch their spot with at least a draw against Iraq. South Korea have played at every World Cup since 1986 in Mexico. They have had three straight 1-1 draws -- against Palestine in November and then against Oman and Jordan in consecutive matches at home in March. With the two recent draws, South Korea missed out on a chance to qualify for the big tournament early in front of home supporters. (Yonhap)
Reuters
23-03-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Iran host Uzbekistan needing only a point to seal World Cup berth
HONG KONG, March 23 (Reuters) - Iran need only a draw from their match against Uzbekistan at the Azadi Stadium in Tehran on Tuesday to join Japan in securing a spot at the 2026 World Cup while stuttering South Korea will look to steady their nerves against visitors Jordan. Iran, who are looking to confirm a fourth consecutive appearance at the finals, lead Uzbekistan by three points in Group A and hold a nine-point advantage over United Arab Emirates with three matches to play. The top two from each of Asia's three groups in the third phase of qualifying advance directly to the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, with nations finishing third and fourth moving on to a fourth round of qualifiers in October. Japan became the first country to qualify for the finals on Thursday. Iran and Uzbekistan have played each other three times in the 2026 qualifying campaign, with all three matches ending in draws. Asian champions Qatar take on Kyrgyzstan and the UAE play North Korea with both needing wins to maintain their hopes of an automatic berth, although the pair appear increasingly likely to advance to the fourth phase. South Korea have stumbled their way through Group B but, despite their unconvincing performances, Hong Myung-bo's lead by three points from Jordan. The pair meet in Suwon in a re-run of last year's Asian Cup semi-final, with Jordanian hopes of repeating their win in Qatar boosted by a 3-1 victory over Palestine on Thursday. Iraq, who trail Jordan on goal difference, take on Palestine having escaped with a point from their meeting with Kuwait last week thanks to a pair of stoppage-time goals. The Kuwaitis host fourth-placed Oman. Japan's victory over Bahrain confirmed their qualification and left five nations battling for the remaining automatic berth in Group C. Second-placed Australia travel to Hangzhou to take on China with only four points separating the Socceroos and their last-placed hosts. Indonesia's 5-1 thrashing by Australia in Sydney marked a disastrous debut for coach Patrick Kluivert, who will need to pick up three points against Bahrain in Jakarta to reignite their challenge for a first World Cup berth since 1938. Saudi Arabia face Japan on the back of a 1-0 win over China, their first victory in five qualifiers moving them into sole possession of third place.
Reuters
21-03-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Oman draw was South Korea's worst performance in qualifiers, says coach
March 21 (Reuters) - South Korea manager Hong Myung-bo said his side delivered their worst performance of World Cup qualifying after being held 1-1 by Oman in Goyang, settling for a second consecutive draw following November's 1-1 stalemate with Palestine in Amman. Hwang Hee-chan had given the home side the lead in the 41st minute but an 80th-minute strike by Ali Al-Busaidi levelled for the Omanis against a Korean outfit that saw Paris St-Germain's Lee Kang-in leave the field with an ankle injury. "This was our worst performance so far in this ongoing qualification round," Hong told reporters after the game. "Of course, we had some difficulties from early on because we had some new lineup combinations... We conceded too easily, making it feel like we were never truly in control despite leading." Hong explained it was never his plan to bring in midfielder Lee, who had just one day of training, adding that he would not have played if not for Paik Seung-ho's injury in the 38th minute. Injury concerns shadowed Korea even before the game, with Bayern Munich defender Kim Min-jae withdrawn from the squad due to Achilles tendinitis and Feyenoord midfielder Hwang In-beom rested as a precaution after his month-long injury absence. Captain Son Heung-min did not want to dwell on the result after failing to get on the score sheet. "I feel like I let my teammates down today but this is not the only match we're going to play together," Son said. "We have been able to create some positive situations to come this far. We should try to learn from this match and take the next step." South Korea remain top of Group B with 15 points, three ahead of Jordan, who moved into second with a 3-1 win over Palestine in Amman. The Koreans will play Jordan in Suwon on Tuesday.
