The 11-time defending World Cup champions will face Thailand at Seoul World Cup Stadium on June 21 at 8 p.m. in the third Group C match of the 2026 North and Central American World Cup Asia Second Qualifying Round.
The Asian Cup was marred by the so-called “Ping Ponggate” clash between Son Heung-min (Tottenham) and Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain), but the wound has healed. Lee flew to London, England, last month to apologize, and Son Heung-min embraced him.
At the official press conference against Thailand on Tuesday, Son Heung-min said, “It’s the first time since the Qatar Asian Cup. It’s an honor to be called up to the national team. I’m really happy to meet the fans.” “I met (Lee) separately in England. We talked about this and that. Yesterday, we had a meeting together. In front of all the players, he explained what he did and what he did wrong and apologized sincerely.”
“It took courage for him to apologize, and he showed such a courageous attitude. I think the players accepted it well. I think it gave the team a chance to come together. “Everyone makes mistakes, and we learn from them,” he said, adding, “The atmosphere is not as bad as many people worry. He’s a strong player and he’s still young, 바카라사이트 so hopefully he’ll get stronger and know what it means to be on the national team. I hope he becomes a better player and a better person,” he smiled.
Lee Kang-in also bowed his head.
“I just wanted to say that I’m so sorry that I couldn’t reciprocate the love, attention, and support I received during the Asian Cup and let you down,” he said. “I’m learning so much from this opportunity, and everyone’s bitter words will be very helpful in the future, and I’m reflecting a lot. I’m going to work hard to be a better soccer player, a better person, a more helpful person to the team, and a more exemplary person. I will become such a person and player, so I ask for your interest and support for Korean soccer in the future.”
South Korea has a 2-0 record in the second round of qualifying. They thrashed Singapore 5-0 at home and then defeated China 3-0 away.
Thailand is a fast-growing and dominant team in Southeast Asia. They are ranked 101st in the FIFA rankings (South Korea is 22nd), but they made it through the group stage of the Asian Cup with one win and two draws, including a goalless draw with Saudi Arabia. A 1-2 loss to Uzbekistan in the round of 16 halted their progress, but they jumped 12 spots in the FIFA rankings.
South Korea have played Thailand 45 times, winning 30, drawing 7 and losing 8. They have only met once since the 2000s. In March 2016, they won 1-0 in a friendly. Son Heung-min, as well as Lee Kang-in and Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich), will be facing Thailand for the first time.
Playing in a ‘hot country’, Thai players are worried about ‘flower gland cold’.
“We all know how strong Korea is,” said Thailand A head coach Masatada Ishii. Thailand is also preparing well. It’s a process of becoming a ‘one-man team’. We are aiming to come away with at least one point through our prepared tactics.”
Hwang Sun-hong, the interim head coach of the A team, revealed his best 11. The team will play a 4-2-3-1 system.
Up top, Lee Min-kyu (Ulsan) starts, while Son Heung-min, Lee Jae-sung (Mainz), and Jung Woo-young (Stuttgart) line up in the second line. In the defensive midfield, Hwang In-beom (Zvezda) and Baek Seung-ho (Birmingham City) will start. Lee Kang-in, who trained for the first time a day before the Thailand match, will start on the bench.
In the back four, Kim Jin-soo (Jeonbuk), Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich), 안전 토토사이트 Kim Young-kwon (Ulsan) and Seol Young-woo (Ulsan) will start. Cho Hyun-woo (Ulsan) will be in goal.
At 33 years and 333 days old, Inhabi-Kyu became the oldest player to make his A-match debut (33 years and 343 days). The oldest debut was made by Han Jung-hwa (32 years and 168 days) at the 1954 World Cup in Switzerland.
“It’s a game where we need to be good,” said Hwang.
They are a very good team. We respect them. But we will definitely win and reward our fans with a good result. It’s a home game, so we have to be confident of winning,” he vowed.
The number of tickets allocated to Asia for the tournament was increased from 4.5 to 8.5 as part of the expansion of the North American World Cup to 48 nations. The A’s are in Group C alongside China, Singapore, and Thailand in the second round of qualifying. The first and second place finishers in each group will qualify for the final round.