Son Heung-min (Tottenham Hotspur) is unavailable and Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton) is also missing. But there is something to believe. It will continue its journey to the final of the North China World Cup with ample resources in the second tier.

The South Korean national football team, led by head coach Hong Myung-bo, will play the fourth match of Group B against Iraq in the third Asian qualifying round for the 2026 North China World Cup at Yongin Mir Stadium on the 15th at 8 p.m. South Korea, which is the Having overcome the crisis on the 10th with a 2-0 win in their third away game against Jordan, they are determined to continue their momentum and establish a solo system at home.

South Korea, which recorded two wins and a draw (7 points) in the third qualifying round of the World Cup, is at the top of Group B with +4 points, beating Iraq (+2 points). In the FIFA rankings, South Korea (23rd) is ahead of Iraq (55th) and South Korea has an absolute advantage over Iraq with 9 wins, 12 draws and 2 defeats in all A games.

To penetrate Iraq’s dense defenses, the attack window must be sharp. The national team’s key offensive players are missing, but they have their own alternatives. Other second-line players such as Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain) and Lee Jae-sung (Mainz), who have been the main players since the introduction of Hong Myung-bo, are in good shape. In addition, Bae Joon-ho (Stoke City), who showed his potential in the game against Jordan, fills the gap between Son Heung-min and Hwang Hee-chan. Born in 2003, Bae Jun-ho played a key role in the lightning strike attack in the game against Jordan.

(Reporter Kim Jihan)