South Korea at the World Cup 2026
South Korea are back at their 11th World Cup. The Taegeuk Warriors landed in Group A with hosts Mexico, South Africa, and Czech Republic. Coach Kim Do-Hoon took over in May 2024 after Jürgen Klinsmann left. This is the full Korea guide for South African punters.
South Korea at the World Cup 2026
Group A · FIFA World Cup 2026
| Date | Match | Venue | Round | Preview |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fri 12/06, 04:00 SAST |  South Koreav Czechia |
Estadio Akron | ||
| Fri 19/06, 03:00 SAST |  MexicovSouth Korea |
Estadio Akron | ||
| Thu 25/06, 03:00 SAST |  South AfricavSouth Korea |
Estadio BBVA |
The story
The miracle of 2002, and a spirit that never quits
South Korea wrote one of the greatest stories in World Cup history on home soil in 2002. Roared on by a sea of red, and coached by the Dutchman Guus Hiddink, they beat Portugal, Italy and Spain to reach the semi-finals, the first Asian team ever to get that far.
It was built on relentless running, total belief and a crowd that never sat down. A nation discovered just how far heart and fitness could carry a team.
South Korea have qualified for the World Cup more than any other Asian country, a record of remarkable consistency. The modern side is led by Son Heung-min, a true world-class forward and one of the most loved players in the English game.
The 2002 spirit still defines them. They run, they press, and they fight to the final whistle.
The Red Devils support is a wall of colour and noise. The 2002 run remains one of football’s great fan stories.
South Korea are fit, fast and never beaten until the end. They chase games to the last second, which makes late goals a real feature of their matches.
How South Korea qualified
South Korea topped AFC third-round Group B ahead of Iraq, Jordan, Oman, Palestine, and Kuwait. They booked their spot in March 2025 with a goalless draw in Iraq, two matches before the round closed.
The qualification road was smooth on paper. Korea won 6 and drew 3 of their 10 group games, conceding only 4 goals. The bigger story was the coaching change. Jürgen Klinsmann left in February 2024 after a poor Asian Cup. Hong Myung-bo took the interim role before Kim Do-Hoon was appointed full time in May 2024.
Kim brought stability. He won 8 of his first 12 in charge. Korea have not lost a competitive home game under him.
Group A breakdown
Korea probably look at Group A and see a route through. Mexico are the seeded side and the hosts. South Africa are the African unknown. Czech Republic are the European third seed. Korea are stronger than Czech Republic on most rankings.
| Date (SAST) | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Fri 12/06, 04:00 | South KoreavCzech Republic | Estadio BBVA, Monterrey |
| Fri 19/06, 03:00 | MexicovSouth Korea | Estadio Akron, Guadalajara |
| Thu 25/06, 03:00 | South AfricavSouth Korea | Estadio BBVA, Monterrey |
Two of Korea’s three games kick off at 03:00 or 04:00 SAST. Not friendly viewing times for South African fans. The Mexico game is at 03:00 SAST.
Group rivals: Mexico, South Africa, Czech Republic.
The squad: who to watch
Son Heung-min is still the headline name. The Tottenham captain turns 34 in July 2026 and this is almost certainly his last World Cup. He has 47 Korea goals in 132 caps. Expect him to start every match.
Hwang Hee-Chan (#11, age 29) provides pace on the other wing. He plays for Wolves in the Premier League. He scored 7 goals in qualifying.
Cho Gue-Sung (#9, age 28) is the target man. He stands 1.89m, leads the line, and is the focal point for Son’s crosses. He plays for Mainz in the Bundesliga.
Oh Hyeon-Gyu (#9, age 24) is the bench option. Glasgow Celtic striker, quick and willing to run channels.
In midfield, Lee Kang-In is the most technically gifted Korean player after Son. He plays at Paris Saint-Germain and is the man who unlocks deep defences. He turns 25 just before the World Cup.
How South Korea play under Kim Do-Hoon
Kim has tightened things up after the Klinsmann era. The default shape is 4-2-3-1. Two screening midfielders, Son on the left, Hwang on the right, Cho or Oh up front, Lee Kang-In behind the striker.
Press is high and aggressive but only in clear triggers. Korea press the opposition’s first build-up pass. If that fails, they fall back into a mid-block.
Strengths: pace on the flanks, set-piece variety, goalkeeper. Weaknesses: centre-back depth, finishing from open play. Korea need Son and Hwang firing to score regularly.
Betting on South Korea from South Africa
SA bookmakers treat Korea as a mid-tier outside bet. Outright odds sit around 100/1 to 150/1. The market sees them as a Round of 16 side, not a winner.
- Korea to qualify from Group A. Priced around 1.85 to 2.05 across SA books. Solid value given the 8 third-placed teams route.
- Korea v Czech Republic, Korea win. Opens around 2.10. Korea are stronger and the timing of the fixture (4 days before Czech face Mexico) plays in Korea’s favour.
- Son Heung-min anytime tournament scorer. Around 1.60 on most SA books. Hard to argue against. Son has scored in every major tournament since 2018.
- Lee Kang-In to score from outside the box, tournament. Special market around 5.00 on Gbets. Lee has 4 goals from range in 2025-26 for PSG.
For Korea betting, YesPlay tends to offer the best in-play prices on Asian sides. Gbets runs the deepest specials. Cloudbet is the go-to for crypto-funded live markets on the late kick-offs.
How to watch South Korea in South Africa
SuperSport carries every Korea game on DStv. SABC may broadcast the Bafana versus Korea match on 25/06/2026 on free-to-air given Bafana involvement. The Korea games against Mexico and Czech Republic are unlikely to land on SABC.
Two of three Korea games kick off in the 03:00 SAST slot. PVR or DStv Catch Up is the friend of the sane viewer.
Streaming via DStv Stream and DStv Now is included with the standard package.
FAQ: South Korea at the 2026 World Cup
When does South Korea play their first match?
South Korea face Czech Republic on Friday 12/06/2026 at 04:00 SAST. The match is at Estadio BBVA in Monterrey, Mexico. It is the second Group A fixture after the Mexico v South Africa opener.
Who is South Korea’s manager?
Kim Do-Hoon took charge in May 2024 after Jürgen Klinsmann was sacked. Kim was previously a striker for Korea between 1995 and 2003 and managed several K League clubs.
Is Son Heung-min still playing for South Korea?
Yes. Son is the Korea captain and the team’s all-time leading goalscorer with 47 goals in 132 caps as of May 2026. He turns 34 in July 2026. This is widely expected to be his last World Cup.
What is South Korea’s best World Cup result?
Fourth place in 2002, when Korea co-hosted with Japan. Korea beat Italy, Spain, and Portugal on the way to the semi-final. They have made the Round of 16 in 2010 and 2022 since then.
Where can South Africans bet on South Korea?
Any sportsbook licensed by a South African provincial gambling board. YesPlay, Gbets, Cloudbet, Pokerbet, and Betshezi all carry full Korea markets for the 2026 World Cup.
More on the World Cup
Group A rivals: Mexico · South Africa · Czech Republic
Other: Back to the World Cup 2026 hub · All football fixtures · SA sportsbook reviews
