South Korean national football team captain Son Heung-min (LA FC) has expressed strong determination ahead of his fourth consecutive World Cup appearance at the 2026 tournament in North America.
"The World Cup is always a dream stage," Son said at his club's official press conference on Tuesday (Korea time). "My passion is exactly the same as when I first played at the 2014 Brazil tournament. I will return to my original mindset and lead the team both on and off the pitch."
For Son, who is now in his mid-30s, the upcoming North American tournament is effectively his last World Cup. He left Tottenham of England last year and chose the U.S. stage to adapt to local conditions. "I thought I would be playing in the United States, so I was surprised to learn the group stage will be held in Mexico," Son said. "But starting environmental adaptation early is clearly an advantage."
Son has already experienced two away matches at high altitude in Mexico while playing in the CONCACAF Champions Cup with his club. "When I checked the data, high-altitude matches were much more difficult than regular games," he said. "I will actively share my valuable high-altitude experience with my national team teammates."
Whether Son will set a new record for the most World Cup goals by a Korean player is also a major point of interest. With three goals and one assist in his World Cup career, Son needs just one more goal to surpass Park Ji-sung and Ahn Jung-hwan, both of whom scored three, and stand alone at the top.
"Rather than personal records, creating a festival where football fans come together and enjoy themselves comes first," Son said, emphasizing the essence of football as a team sport. He also dismissed recent concerns about his scoring drought at his club, saying, "Ability doesn't disappear overnight. Goals can come at any time."
Meanwhile, the national team will play a friendly against Trinidad and Tobago at 10 a.m. on May 31, followed by another against El Salvador at 10 a.m. on June 4. Both matches will be held at BYU South Field at Brigham Young University in Salt Lake City, Utah, the team's pre-tournament camp site.
