Hong Myung-bo is set to play an away game against Jordan. As is well known, attention is focusing on what alternative coach Hong will use as Son Heung-min left due to a thigh injury.
The national soccer team, led by head coach Hong, will play the third away game of the third Asian qualifying round for the 2026 North-China World Cup against Jordan at 11 p.m. (Korea time) at Amman International Stadium in Jordan.
In the past two matches under Hong, the national team has shown disappointment. In the first match against Palestine held at the Seoul World Cup Stadium on June 5, the team displayed frustrating performance and suffered a 0-0 draw. It won 3-1 in an away match against Oman. However, critics say that the team was not satisfied with the attack and that it relied on personal skills such as Son Heung-min who scored one goal and two assists.
It is fatal that Son Heung-min was absent from the A match call-up. Son has led the team’s offense by scoring eight goals in 13 A matches he played this year. Although it is difficult to fill the vacancy of key strikers in a short period of time, Hong has high expectations on Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton), Lee Jae-sung (Mines) and Bae Jun-ho (Stoke City).
Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich) will play the role of “captain.” Kim Min-jae, who caused controversy by colliding with fans at the match against Palestine, has shown charismatic performance by encouraging players’ morale at the ground. Diversity of deployment of attack relies on Hong’s tactical capabilities and creativity of Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain). Hwang In-beom (Feyenoord), who has been actively active in his team in recent months, will also take the core role of the midfield, which will likely enhance his grip on the game.
South Korea is dominant with three wins, three draws and one loss against Jordan. However, in February, the most recent match, they lost 0-2 in the semifinals of the AFC Asian Cup, and in the aftermath, then national team coach Jurgen Klinsman was replaced.
Korea is leading the league with Jordan and Iraq with one win and one draw (four points). The three countries share the same points, but Jordan (+2, four goals) is ranked first, Korea (+2, three goals) is ranked second, and Iraq (+1, one goal) is ranked third according to goal difference and goals scored. 먹튀검증
