Head coach Hong Myung-bo has unveiled his starting lineup for South Korea's final Group A match against South Africa at the 2026 World Cup in North America.
Ahead of the South Africa match Wednesday Korea time, Hong placed Oh Hyeon-gyu (Besiktas) at the tip of the attack instead of captain Son Heung-min (LAFC). Son will start on the bench.
This marks the first time Oh has started a World Cup match. He found the net in the team's opening game against the Czech Republic, a 2-1 victory.
Son, meanwhile, has been named to the substitutes' list for the first time since he began competing in the World Cup at the 2014 Brazil tournament.
As second-line attackers, Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton) and Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain) earned Hong's selection.
In midfield, Hwang In-beom (Feyenoord) and Baek Seung-ho (Birmingham City) will partner together.
Lee Ki-hyeok (Gangwon), Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich) and Lee Han-beom (Midtjylland) make up the three-back defense, while the left and right wing-back roles go to Seol Young-woo (Crvena Zvezda) and Lee Tae-seok (Vienna). Kim Min-jae wears the captain's armband.
Guarding the goal, as ever, is Kim Seung-gyu (Tokyo).
Compared with the second match against Mexico, Son Heung-min, Lee Jae-sung (Mainz), who had played on the flank, and wing-back Kim Moon-hwan (Daejeon) have been replaced by Oh Hyeon-gyu, Hwang Hee-chan and Lee Tae-seok.
For opponents South Africa, Evidence Makgopa has been picked as the lead striker, with Oswin Appollis, Relebohile Mofokeng and Thapelo Maseko expected to feature in the second line.
Midfielder Sphephelo Sithole, who was sent off in the tournament's opening match against Mexico, returns to fill the gap left by midfield linchpin Thabo Mokoena, who is out due to accumulated yellow cards, with Thalente Mbatha also lining up in midfield.
Khuliso Mudau, Aime Okon, Mbekezeli Mbokazi and Aubrey Modiba form the defense, while captain Ronwen Williams dons the goalkeeper's gloves.
Lyle Foster (Burnley), the only South Africa player competing in England, will start the match on the bench.
