Jeon Jinwoo, Lee Kangin, Oh Hyunkyoo, and Lee Jaesung Score Consecutive Goals
Unbeaten Finish in World Cup Third Qualifying Round with '6 Wins and 4 Draws'
The South Korea national football team, led by a squad of young players, wrapped up their World Cup qualifying campaign on a high note with a 4-0 victory over Kuwait in the final Group B home match of the 2026 FIFA CONCACAF World Cup Asian third qualifying round, held at Seoul World Cup Stadium on June 10.
Head coach Hong Myungbo, whose team had already secured their 11th consecutive World Cup appearance after the ninth match against Iraq on June 6, started a number of young players including Bae Junho, Oh Hyunkyoo, Jeon Jinwoo, and Lee Hanbeom.
Oh Hyunkyoo led the attack up front, with Lee Kangin, Bae Junho, and Jeon Jinwoo supporting from the second line. Hwang Inbeom and Won Dujjae anchored the midfield, while Lee Taeseok, Kim Juseong, Lee Hanbeom, and Seol Youngwoo formed the defense. Lee Changgeun was in goal.
Compared to the match against Iraq, seven of the starting eleven were changed. Lee Hanbeom made his A-match debut, while Kim Juseong and Jeon Jinwoo, who had previously only appeared as substitutes in A-matches, made their first starts. This was Bae Junho's second time starting in an A-match. Won Dujjae played in an A-match for the first time in two years, since a friendly against Peru in June 2023. Goalkeeper Lee Changgeun also played his second A-match in four years and seven months, following a friendly against Qatar in November 2020.
Jeon Jinwoo made a strong impression by scoring the opening goal in his first A-match start. In the 30th minute of the first half, he headed in a corner kick delivered by Hwang Inbeom to score the first goal.
In the second half, Lee Kangin, Oh Hyunkyoo, and Lee Jaesung each found the net in quick succession.
In the 6th minute of the second half, Lee Kangin won the ball from the opposition, exchanged passes with Bae Junho inside the opponent's penalty box, and scored the second goal with his left foot.
Three minutes later, Bae Junho headed the ball down, and Oh Hyunkyoo converted it with a right-footed turning shot to make it 3-0.
South Korea national football team captain Son Heungmin is greeting the spectators after a 4-0 victory against Kuwait in the final match of the 2026 CONCACAF World Cup Asia third qualifying round held at Seoul World Cup Stadium on the 10th. Photo by Yonhap News
With the outcome already decided, South Korea continued to press forward. In the 27th minute of the second half, Lee Jaesung, who came on as a substitute for Jeon Jinwoo, sealed the victory with a fourth goal. After Kim Juseong's header struck the opponent's goalpost, Lee Jaesung scored with his left foot amid a scramble in front of the goal.
Coach Hong Myungbo brought on Son Heungmin, Yang Hyunjun, and Hwang Heechan as substitutes from the 30th minute of the second half to close out the match.
Bae Junho recorded two assists, while Hwang Inbeom and Kim Juseong each provided one assist.
South Korea finished first in Group B with a final record of six wins, four draws, and 22 points, securing qualification for the 2026 CONCACAF World Cup. Having entered from the second qualifying round, South Korea finished the qualifiers unbeaten for the first time in 16 years, with five wins and one draw in the second round and six wins and four draws in the third round.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
