Hong Myung-bo’s 26-man squad practiced normally.
The South Korean national soccer team, led by head coach Hong Myung-bo, held a training session at the Yongin Mir Stadium for about an hour from 4 p.m. on Wednesday to prepare for their upcoming match against Iraq in the fourth match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup North America, Asia, Third Qualifying Round.
After concluding their third qualifying match against Jordan with a 2-0 away victory at the Amman International Stadium in Amman, Jordan, on Nov. 11, South Korea 무료 토토사이트 will play their fourth home match against Iraq on Nov. 15 at Yongin Mir Stadium.
After three matches in Group B, South Korea is tied on points with Iraq (W7 D+4 L+4), but leads the group on goal difference, having won two and drawn one (W7 D+2 L+2).
With the first and second-place finishers in the third qualifying round securing a direct ticket to the North and Central American World Cup, a Hong Myung-bok victory against Iraq on Friday could set the tone for the team to consolidate its lead.
Ahead of the Iraq match, Korea’s roster has changed. Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton), who started against Jordan, was ruled out with a left ankle injury, while Uhm Ji-sung (Swansea City) was diagnosed with a left knee injury and was released from the squad on Wednesday. Second-choice attacking options Lee Seung-woo and Moon Sun-min (Jeonbuk Hyundai) have been named as alternatives.
The two players have been training at the Seongnam FC clubhouse since Wednesday.
Lee Seung-woo has 11 goals and five assists in the K League 1 this season. He can play on the flanks or in the center of the field, with his pace and finishing skills.
If he does get the chance to play against Iraq, it will be interesting to see if he scores his debut goal after going 11 games without a goal in A-match action.
“I didn’t realize it was so long ago, and I was surprised. I think the players are the same, but the clothes, the staff and the environment have changed a lot,” Lee told reporters before the team’s training session on Wednesday.
“It would be best if I play (against Iraq), but even if I don’t, I hope I can leave with good memories in the national team,” Lee said.
It will be interesting to see if Bae Jun-ho (Stoke City), who assisted South Korea’s second goal in Jordan (scored by Oh Hyun-kyu), will make his presence felt once again in a flanking position.
Bae stepped in for Hwang Hee-chan in the Jordan game after the latter was forced off with an injury and Uhm Ji-sung, who had been playing in his place, also left with an injury. He helped South Korea add to their lead in the 23rd minute with a precise forward pass to Oh Hyun-gyu after the team had taken a 1-0 lead. He was also praised for his flashy movement and ball-keeping.
Bae Joon-ho, who has been praised for his leadership as a flanking option with two of his main rivals out with injuries, said, “Nobody knows what’s going to happen (in the future). Seung-woo and Seon-min came in, so I have to compete in that situation. If I get the chance, I want to do my best,” he said.
When asked about the possibility of Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain) on the right and Bae Jun-ho on the left against Iraq, he said, “I’m always learning a lot from him. It was good to have the opportunity to play with him (against Jordan), and I think we can have a synergistic effect in the future. I want to be helpful.”
All 26 players of the Hong Myung-baek defense participated in a normal training session in Yongin after Seongnam.
The first 15 minutes of training were open to the media. After five minutes of running around the field to warm up, the players moved to one corner of the field to increase the intensity and warm up further.
The three goalkeepers then worked separately in front of the goal, while the rest of the players moved to the center of the field to work on passing.
