Seoul: In the midst of a hot streak, Celtic FC winger Yang Hyun-jun was named to the South Korean squad Monday ahead of two upcoming World Cup qualifying matches at home.
According to Yonhap News Agency, head coach Hong Myung-bo unveiled his 28-man team at the Korea Football Association (KFA) House, with South Korea set to host Oman on March 20 at Goyang Stadium in Goyang, about 20 kilometers northwest of Seoul, and Jordan on March 25 at Suwon World Cup Stadium in Suwon, some 30 kilometers south of the capital city. These will be the seventh and eighth matches for South Korea in the third round of the Asian qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
South Korea currently leads Group B with 14 points from four wins and two draws. The top two countries from each of the three groups will advance to the World Cup, and South Korea, with a five-point lead over Jordan and four matches remaining, could secure their World Cup berth during the upcoming home stand.
Yang, 22, has been a standout South Korean player in Europe recently, with four goals and five assists in seven matches across all competitions. He has earned three international caps, with his last appearance coming during the Asian Football Confederation Asian Cup in February 2024.
Yang Min-hyeok, the 18-year-old attacker for Queens Park Rangers (QPR), also earned a call-up. He was on the squad for World Cup qualifiers last September but did not make an appearance. Yang signed for Tottenham Hotspur last summer but was loaned to QPR in the second-tier English league in January before playing any match for Spurs.
Hong, who spent about a month in Europe earlier this year meeting with South Korean players, noted Yang Hyun-jun's impact despite limited playing time. "He has not been playing big minutes, and I don't think his playing time will increase significantly going forward," the coach said. "But he has been making a huge impact in a short amount of time. That's a great thing for both the player himself and for the national team."
Hong said he was unable to meet Yang Min-hyeok in January, who was training with Tottenham and on the verge of being loaned to QPR. Since then, the teenager has been performing well. "When it comes to his burst of speed, he has been pretty solid," Hong added. "He is going to be a pillar of South Korean football in the future."
The two Yangs are joined by the team's usual mainstays, including longtime captain Son Heung-min (Tottenham), midfielder Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain), and defender Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich). Another veteran, Feyenoord midfielder Hwang In-beom, joined despite missing about a month of action for his Dutch club due to an unspecified injury. Hong believes Hwang should return by the weekend.
Kim Dong-heon and Cho Hyun-taek, the goalkeeper and defender for Gimcheon Sangmu FC, both earned their first national team call-ups. Daejeon Hana Citizen FC striker Joo Min-kyu, currently leading the K League 1 with four goals after four matches, is among the three forwards selected. The squad features nine players born in the 2000s, including five midfielders.
Hong expressed a desire for his younger players to play without fear. "I want to see them take control and be aggressive," the coach said. "They can make mistakes, and they may not be as talented as some older guys. But I hope they stay relentless and keep at it."
The Taegeuk Warriors have participated in every World Cup since 1986 and can secure their spot in the 2026 tournament this month. However, Hong emphasized not putting too much pressure on the players. "Clinching early at home is obviously the ideal scenario, but I also think not everything goes according to plan," he said. "We will do the best we can, but I also want to create an environment where our players will feel comfortable."