Latest news with #OhHyeon-gyu
The Sun
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
South Korea qualify for 2026 FIFA World Cup
SOUTH Korea have qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup with their latest win in the ongoing qualification phase. South Korea defeated 10-man Iraq 2-0 in their penultimate Group B match in the third round of the Asian World Cup qualifiers at Basra International Stadium in Basra, southern Iraq, on Thursday (local time), Yonhap news agency reported. Substitutes Kim Jin-gyu and Oh Hyeon-gyu scored a goal apiece in a dominant second half for the Taegeuk Warriors. South Korea are leading Group B with 19 points from five wins and four draws, three points ahead of Jordan. The top two teams from each of the three groups in the third round will grab tickets to the World Cup, and Thursday's win assured South Korea of at least second place in Group B, regardless of their result against Kuwait in their final match in Seoul on Tuesday. South Korea will make their 11th straight appearance in the World Cup next year, with the United States, Canada and Mexico serving as co-hosts. Only Brazil, Germany, Argentina, Italy and Spain have had longer streaks of consecutive trips to the World Cup.
The Sun
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
South Korea Qualifies for 2026 World Cup After Beating Iraq
SOUTH Korea have qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup with their latest win in the ongoing qualification phase. South Korea defeated 10-man Iraq 2-0 in their penultimate Group B match in the third round of the Asian World Cup qualifiers at Basra International Stadium in Basra, southern Iraq, on Thursday (local time), Yonhap news agency reported. Substitutes Kim Jin-gyu and Oh Hyeon-gyu scored a goal apiece in a dominant second half for the Taegeuk Warriors. South Korea are leading Group B with 19 points from five wins and four draws, three points ahead of Jordan. The top two teams from each of the three groups in the third round will grab tickets to the World Cup, and Thursday's win assured South Korea of at least second place in Group B, regardless of their result against Kuwait in their final match in Seoul on Tuesday. South Korea will make their 11th straight appearance in the World Cup next year, with the United States, Canada and Mexico serving as co-hosts. Only Brazil, Germany, Argentina, Italy and Spain have had longer streaks of consecutive trips to the World Cup.
France 24
2 days ago
- Sport
- France 24
South Korea turn focus to 2026 after sealing World Cup spot
Hong's side belatedly saw off 10-man Iraq 2-0 in front of a noisy Basra crowd on Thursday to seal an 11th straight World Cup appearance. Substitutes Oh Hyeon-gyu and Kim Jin-kyu scored in the second half to send South Korea through with a game to spare. "Now that today's match is over and our qualification is confirmed, we will focus everything on the World Cup from this point forward," Hong told reporters. "There are many things to consider but I believe we need to prepare step by step, steadily, for the World Cup finals." South Korea top Group B from Jordan with five wins and four draws but it has not been an easy qualifying campaign. They remain heavily reliant on skipper and Spurs attacker Son Heung-min, 32, who was not involved against Iraq. He lifted the Europa League trophy with the Spurs but had a mixed season by his high standards and struggled for form and fitness. South Korea were held by Palestine and drew home to Oman and Jordan in their three previous games, as they laboured to finish the line. Decorated former international Hong, 56, was booed by fans following his appointment nearly a year ago. That came after South Korean football bosses scrambled around trying to find a permanent successor to the sacked and unpopular Jurgen Klinsmann. Hong said that the sending-off of Iraq's English-based forward Ali Al-Hamadi on 26 minutes changed the game. "I expected this to be a difficult match and even as it began, I judged that it wouldn't be easy," he said. "But once the opposing team had a player sent off we were able to take control of the game. "Ultimately, we capitalised on the man advantage, created scoring opportunities and secured the win. "I want to congratulate my players and say I'm very pleased." South Korea host Kuwait on Tuesday in their last qualifier. The World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico takes place in June-July next year.
eNCA
2 days ago
- Sport
- eNCA
Uzbekistan and Jordan qualify for World Cup for first time, South Korea through
DUBAI - Uzbekistan and Jordan made history on Thursday by qualifying for their first World Cup, while the pair will be joined in next year's tournament by perennial participants South Korea. Uzbekistan, one of the fastest-rising national teams in Asia, drew 0-0 with the UAE in Abu Dhabi to take the second automatic spot in Group A, although top place is still in play after already qualified Iran lost 1-0 to Qatar in Doha. Heading into the third round's final set of fixtures on Tuesday, Iran sit at the summit, two points ahead of Uzbekistan. The top two teams in each of the three Asian groups go straight to the World Cup, while those finishing third and fourth –- the UAE and Qatar hold those slots in Group A –- enter a fourth round of qualifiers. In Group B, South Korea confirmed their place in an 11th straight World Cup by defeating Iraq 2-0 in Basra. The victory, sealed by second-half goals from Kim Jin-gyu and Oh Hyeon-gyu, means South Korea reclaim top spot from Jordan, whose 3-0 victory against Oman earlier on Thursday ultimately proved enough to secure their participation at the expanded 48-team showpiece in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Ali Olwin netted a hat-trick as the 2023 Asian Cup runners-up etched their name in the record books. Iraq were reduced to 10 men midway through the first half when Ali Al Hamadi's foul on Cho Yu-min was upgraded to a red card following a VAR review. Iraq sit third in Group B, with Oman and Palestine still able to progress to the fourth round of qualifying. Palestine, who defeated Kuwait 2-0 in Ardhiya, host Oman on Tuesday, while Iraq face Jordan in Amman. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia and Australia will go head-to-head on Tuesday for the second automatic spot in Group C. Australia remain in pole position following their last-gasp win against group leaders Japan in Perth. Defender Aziz Behich was the home hero in front of more than 57,000 fans, rifling into the corner in the 90th minute to give Tony Popovic's side a crucial 1-0 victory. Saudi Arabia ensured the race for second place will go down to the wire courtesy of a 2-0 win against Bahrain in Riffa. Goals in either half from Musab Al Juwayr and Abdulrahman Al Obud saw Herve Renard's men stay three points behind second-placed Australia. However, the Saudis will have to win in Jeddah by five goals to leapfrog the Socceroos. Also in Group C, Patrick Kluivert's Indonesia kept alive their hopes of reaching a first World Cup since the country's independence in 1945 with a 1-0 win over China. That leaves Indonesia fourth in the group, one point behind Saudi. Ole Romeny scored the only goal, his controversial penalty just before half time following a VAR check leaving China rooted to the bottom of the group and thus ending their hopes of making a second World Cup.
RTHK
2 days ago
- Sport
- RTHK
Uzbekistan, Jordan to make maiden World Cup appearance
Uzbekistan, Jordan to make maiden World Cup appearance Uzbekistan players celebrate after qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. Photo: Reuters Jordanians erupted in celebration after the country qualified for the World Cup for the first time. Photo: Reuters Uzbekistan and Jordan made history by qualifying for their first World Cup, while the pair will be joined in next year's tournament by perennial participants South Korea. Uzbekistan, one of the fastest-rising national teams in Asia, drew 0-0 with the UAE in Abu Dhabi to take the second automatic spot in Group A, although top place is still in play after already qualified Iran lost 1-0 to Qatar in Doha. Heading into the third round's final set of fixtures on Tuesday, Iran sit at the summit, two points ahead of Uzbekistan. The top two teams in each of the three Asian groups go straight to the World Cup, while those finishing third and fourth – the UAE and Qatar hold those slots in Group A – enter a fourth round of qualifiers. In Group B, South Korea confirmed their place in an 11th straight World Cup by defeating Iraq 2-0 in Basra. The victory, sealed by second-half goals from Kim Jin-gyu and Oh Hyeon-gyu, means South Korea reclaim top spot from Jordan, whose 3-0 victory against Oman earlier on Thursday ultimately proved enough to secure their participation at the expanded 48-team showpiece in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Jordan's King Abdullah II congratulated the team on social media. "This historic qualification is well-deserved by our team, which includes stars and cadres of whom we are proud," he wrote on X. "Special thanks go to our loyal fans who have been our support and encouragement." Ali Olwin netted a hat-trick as the 2023 Asian Cup runners-up etched their name in the record books. Iraq were reduced to 10 men midway through the first half when Ali Al Hamadi's foul on Cho Yu-min was upgraded to a red card following a VAR review. Iraq sit third in Group B, with Oman and Palestine still able to progress to the fourth round of qualifying. Palestine, who defeated Kuwait 2-0 in Ardhiya, host Oman on Tuesday, while Iraq face Jordan in Amman. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia and Australia will go head-to-head on Tuesday for the second automatic spot in Group C. Australia remain in pole position following their last-gasp win against group leaders Japan in Perth. Defender Aziz Behich was the home hero in front of more than 57,000 fans, rifling into the corner in the 90th minute to give Tony Popovic's side a crucial 1-0 victory. "We know there's room to grow and room to improve, but we've done something special tonight," said Popovic, who saw his team outplayed for long periods by an experimental Japan side. Saudi Arabia ensured the race for second place will go down to the wire courtesy of a 2-0 win against Bahrain in Riffa. Goals in either half from Musab Al Juwayr and Abdulrahman Al Obud saw Herve Renard's men stay three points behind second-placed Australia. However, the Saudis will have to win in Jeddah by five goals to leapfrog the Socceroos. "We've all played a part in getting us to this point. We want to go to Saudi Arabia and really finish the job off," said Popovic, who replaced Graham Arnold in the dugout in September. (AFP)
