The starting lineup for the Hong Myung-bo squad in their final group stage match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup has been announced.
The South Korean national football team, led by head coach Hong Myung-bo, has placed Oh Hyeon-gyu as the starting striker for the final Group A match against South Africa at Monterrey Stadium in Guadalupe, Mexico, leaving "Captain" Son Heung-min on the bench.
This marks the first time Oh Hyeon-gyu has started in a World Cup match.
Oh previously scored a goal in the opening match against the Czech Republic in this tournament.
On the other hand, this is the first time Son Heung-min has been named as a substitute since he began his World Cup career at the 2014 Brazil tournament.
Coach Hong also excluded Lee Jae-sung, who had started in both of the previous two matches, and inserted Hwang Hee-chan.
Hwang is expected to lead the attack alongside Lee Kang-in in the second line of the offense.
For the full-back positions, which have seen changes in every match, the lineup returns to the combination of Lee Tae-seok on the left and Seol Young-woo on the right, the same as in the first match against the Czech Republic.
Jens Castrop will start the match on the bench again today (June 25).
In the midfield, Hwang In-beom and Paik Seung-ho will work in tandem.
Lee Ki-hyuk, Kim Min-jae, and Lee Han-beom form the three-back defensive line, and Kim Seung-gyu will once again guard the goal.
Compared to the second match against Mexico, the changes include Oh Hyeon-gyu, Hwang Hee-chan, and Lee Tae-seok replacing Son Heung-min, Lee Jae-sung, and wing-back Kim Moon-hwan.
With Son Heung-min starting on the bench, Kim Min-jae will wear the captain's armband.
Reported by Kim Ji-wook | Video by Choi Kang-san | Graphics by Yang Hye-min | Produced by SBS Digital News
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