No Easy Wins: Korea Must Not Underestimate 61st-Ranked South Africa

Akron Stadium in Guadalajara, Mexico, at 11 a.m. on June 12 next year (Korea time) will host South Korea's opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Following the group stage draw on December 6 (Korea time) and the match schedule announcement on December 7, football fans worldwide are feeling the excitement build. South Korea, ranked 22nd in the FIFA rankings, will compete in Group A against one team that advances through the European playoffs, Mexico (15th), and South Africa (61st) for a spot in the round of 32. With the tournament expanding from 32 to 48 nations, the knockout stage begins from the round of 32. The top two teams from each group, plus the eight best third-place finishers, will advance to the knockout rounds. Having received a favorable draw, South Korea aims to reach the quarterfinals for the first time in an away World Cup.

**No Team Is an Easy Win**

Head coach Hong Myung-bo experienced a painful failure at the 2014 Brazil World Cup. His plans fell apart after a 2-4 loss to Algeria, a team he had considered an easy win, ultimately resulting in elimination from the group stage with one draw and two losses.

Hong's new squad, assembled in July last year, raised expectations by completing World Cup qualifying unbeaten. Being placed in Pot 2 brought good fortune in the draw. South Africa may appear to be an easy opponent, but analysts say the approach must differ from the Algeria match. Football commentator Lim Hyung-chul said on December 7, "Considering the matchup dynamics with our national team, I actually see South Africa as the team we should be most wary of. They showcase the individual skills and athleticism characteristic of African football. If our players cannot win their one-on-one battles, we could face significant difficulties." Korea must also keep in mind that all three opponents view them as an easy win.

**Time to Erase the Mexico Nightmare**

Mexico, the co-host nation and Korea's second-round opponent, is a familiar rival. This will be their third World Cup meeting. Korea's record: two matches, two losses. At the 1998 France World Cup, where Hong played, Korea lost 1-3 in their opening group match. At the 2018 Russia World Cup, they fell 1-2 in the second round. Korea's overall record against Mexico in international matches stands at 4 wins, 3 draws, and 8 losses. In a friendly match held in the United States in September, the teams drew 2-2, with Son Heung-min (LAFC) and Oh Hyeon-gyu (Genk) scoring.

Coach Hong cautioned about Mexico, saying, "Home advantage brings out many things beyond just skill," and added, "With our first two matches at an altitude of 1,600 meters, adaptation has become the most critical issue."

Four teams—Denmark, North Macedonia, Czech Republic, and Ireland—remain in the European playoffs, with Korea's opponent to be determined in March next year. Denmark features Christian Eriksen, who played alongside Son Heung-min at Tottenham, while Ireland's key player is Troy Parrott, a former top Tottenham prospect.

**LA Advantage in Round of 32?**

With all three group matches in Mexico, this is essentially a "Mexico World Cup" for Korea. If they finish first in the group, both the round of 32 and round of 16 matches will also be in Mexico (Mexico City).

If they finish second, the round of 32 will be played at SoFi Stadium near Los Angeles. Son Heung-min, who plays for LAFC, could benefit from a home-field advantage. A win in the round of 32 would send them to Houston to compete for a quarterfinal spot.

Commentator Lim noted, "Looking only at the group composition and short travel distances, the conditions are favorable. But turning good conditions into actual advantages depends on our preparation. In last month's friendlies against Bolivia and Ghana (2-0 and 1-0 wins), there were gaps in the opponents' strength, yet the performances left something to be desired. Meticulous preparation over the remaining six months is essential."