A "yellow card alert" has been issued for the South Korean national football team, led by manager Hong Myung-bo, as they stand before the final hurdle to reach the Round of 32 at the 2026 World Cup.

The South Korean national football team will play their third Group A match against South Africa at the Monterrey Stadium in Guadalupe, Mexico, at 10 a.m. on June 25 (KST).

South Korea can advance to the Round of 32 with just a draw in this match. However, a defeat could push them down to fourth place in the group depending on other match results, leading to elimination. Therefore, the team is determined to secure a victory and maintain second place in the group.

However, there is something else Hong's squad must consider as importantly as the match outcome itself.

That is the "card management" of key players.

In the previous two matches, three Taegeuk Warriors received one yellow card each.

In the first match, which ended in a comeback victory against the Czech Republic, left-footed center-back Lee Gi-hyeok (Gangwon FC) was booked.

In the second match, a 0-1 loss to Mexico, "the engine of the attack" Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain) received a yellow card just four minutes into the first half, followed by Paik Seung-ho (Birmingham City) receiving the team's third booking of the tournament in the second half.

If any of these players receive another yellow card in the match against South Africa, they will be suspended for the Round of 32.

Losing even one of them for the Round of 32 would be a major blow to the national team.

Despite being a surprise selection for the national team for this tournament, Lee Gi-hyeok quickly integrated into the squad and secured a starting spot as the left center-back.

He played the full 90 minutes in both group stage matches.

Paik Seung-ho also started both matches as the partner to "midfield core" Hwang In-beom (Feyenoord).

Lee Kang-in must be even more cautious.

Unlike Lee Gi-hyeok and Paik Seung-ho, who have backup options in Kim Tae-hyeon (Kashima Antlers) and Kim Jin-gyu (Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors) respectively, Lee Kang-in is irreplaceable.

Lee's sharp, unpredictable passes are the most threatening weapon for Hong's squad.

In the match against the Czech Republic, Lee recorded a 100% pass success rate and created three goal-scoring opportunities, one of which assisted Hwang In-beom's equalizer.

Against Mexico, he also achieved an 88% pass success rate and created three goal-scoring opportunities.

Although he could not bring victory to the team, he did his part despite being heavily marked by Mexican players.

If Lee is unable to play in the Round of 32, the chances of Hong's team advancing to the Round of 16 will inevitably decrease.

The referee for the upcoming match against South Africa will be Facundo Tello of Argentina, who gave Lee a yellow card during the Qatar tournament four years ago.

If they avoid bookings in the South Africa match, their accumulated yellow cards will be reset to zero starting from the Round of 32.

Up until the previous World Cup, players who accumulated two yellow cards during the group stage and knockout stages (Round of 16 and quarterfinals) were suspended for one match, and any yellow cards received up to that point were wiped clean upon reaching the semifinals.

However, with the number of participating nations in this tournament expanding from 32 to 48, the number of matches required to reach the quarterfinals has increased from five to six. Consequently, the points at which yellow cards are wiped clean have been increased to twice: after the final group stage match and after the quarterfinals.

(Photo: Yonhap News)