[NewsWorker_Sports Issue] World Cup 3rd Qualifier Roster Announcement: Controversial Hong Myung-bo's Squad—Should We Trust K-League Utilization?

[NewsWorker_Sports Issue] The journey towards the 2026 CONCACAF World Cup has begun for the South Korean national football team. On the 26th, the first roster of the new team led by coach Hong Myung-bo, known as the "Hong Myung-bo Squad," was announced. The roster was released ahead of the third round of World Cup qualifiers against Palestine on September 5 and Oman on September 10, with a total of 26 players included.

At the press conference, coach Hong Myung-bo stated, "The selection was focused on maintaining the stable operation of the team while making slight changes for a future-oriented approach." As expected, key players active in European leagues, such as Son Heung-min (Tottenham), Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich), and Lee Kang-in (PSG), were included in the roster. Additionally, 18-year-old Yang Min-hyuk (Gangwon FC) and three other new faces joined the national team.

However, the announcement of the roster has sparked controversy. The average age of the team exceeds 30, which falls short of the fans' expectations for a generational change. The continued selection of older players, such as Kim Young-gwon and Jung Woo-young, has raised concerns among some fans.

End of a Controversial Coaching Appointment Process: Hong Myung-bo. Is He Willing to Devote Himself to the National Team?

After the dismissal of former coach Jurgen Klinsmann, the South Korean national football team was adrift without a formal coach for a long time. The team went through two interim coaches, increasing fans' anxiety, and eventually, Hong Myung-bo was appointed. However, the process was not without its share of noise.

First, there were criticisms that the appointment process for Hong Myung-bo was not transparent. The Korea Football Association initially announced plans to hire a foreign coach but abruptly changed its stance and appointed Hong Myung-bo. The lack of proper explanations or public procedures led to dissatisfaction among fans.

Additionally, Hong Myung-bo's past performance as a national team coach was a point of controversy. Under his leadership, the team was eliminated in the group stage at the 2014 Brazil World Cup with one draw and two losses. This has led some fans to question his capabilities and ask, "Is Hong Myung-bo really the right person to lead the national team?"

Despite these concerns, coach Hong Myung-bo expressed his determination by saying, "I will devote my life to the national team." During his inauguration press conference, he vowed to "give everything for the development of Korean football." However, whether his determination will translate into actual results remains uncertain. His charismatic leadership, which is considered his strength, took a hit even before the qualifiers began, casting doubt on his ability to regain the trust of the fans. To dispel these doubts and earn the fans' trust, he will need to deliver a strong performance and convincing team management in the first match against Palestine.

It’s Now the 3rd Qualifiers! Underestimating Football Because of a National Crisis Would Be a Mistake. The Middle East is the Middle East.

South Korea's first opponent in the third round of qualifiers is Palestine. Many might think Palestine is an easy opponent, considering the national crisis and political turmoil, but this is a very dangerous assumption.

Palestine is currently in a highly complex international situation. The ongoing conflict with Israel and internal political instability might make it seem difficult for them to focus on football. However, paradoxically, these circumstances could strengthen their resolve to bring hope to their people through football.

Indeed, Palestine recently surprised many with their performance in the Qatar Asian Cup. Although they lost to Iran, their aggressive play caught attention, and they drew with the UAE. They even scored the opening goal against Qatar in the Round of 16, showing that they are not pushovers against strong teams.

Moreover, South Korea has traditionally struggled against Middle Eastern teams. The third-round qualifier group includes Iraq, Jordan, Oman, Palestine, and Kuwait—all Middle Eastern teams except for South Korea. South Korea has tasted bitterness against Middle Eastern teams, especially after being eliminated by Jordan in the semifinals of the 2023 Asian Cup. Even during interim coach Hwang Sun-hong's tenure, South Korea drew 1-1 against Thailand, showing unexpected poor performances against Asian teams. Despite the nominal strength of the South Korean team, the actual performance and their history of struggling against Middle Eastern teams could lead to getting stuck in the "Middle Eastern swamp."

Therefore, underestimating Palestine as a weak team and being complacent could lead to significant danger. Coach Hong Myung-bo and his players must fully respect Palestine’s determination, willpower, and unexpected abilities. In football, 'complacency' is always the greatest enemy.

The 4 Newcomers, Including Yang Min-hyuk—What Are the Intentions Behind Their Selection, and What Can We Expect?

The most eye-catching aspect of this first roster under coach Hong Myung-bo is undoubtedly the four new faces. Yang Min-hyuk (Gangwon FC), Hwang Mun-ki (Gangwon FC), Lee Han-beom (FC Midtjylland), and Choi Woo-jin (Incheon) are the selected players. These selections are central to the 'stability with change' approach that coach Hong mentioned.

Yang Min-hyuk's selection was widely anticipated. At 18 years old, he has been performing brilliantly in the K-League and has already secured a move to Tottenham. Yang Min-hyuk symbolizes the future of Korean football. Coach Hong stated, "Yang Min-hyuk has shown enough performance to deserve a spot on the national team." His selection is seen as both an investment in the future and recognition of his current ability.

Hwang Mun-ki's selection is based on his consistent performance in the K-League. Coach Hong explained, "Hwang Mun-ki has been playing a significant role in Gangwon, which is currently at the top of the league, showing good performance. I believe he plays an essential role in the team." Hwang’s versatility as a player seems to have been highly valued. However, it's unfortunate that Hwang Mun-ki will start his military service after this season, making him unavailable for long-term development in the national team.

Lee Han-beom’s selection is a recognition of his experience in European leagues. Currently active in the Danish league, Lee has been starting in recent matches, showing good form. Coach Hong expects his European league experience to bring new energy to the national team.

Lastly, Choi Woo-jin’s selection was somewhat surprising. Coach Hong commented, "I thought Choi Woo-jin was a good player before, but after watching two matches in Incheon, I noticed a change. Although he still has some physical shortcomings, he is a very intriguing player." Choi Woo-jin’s selection exemplifies coach Hong's approach of directly observing and evaluating players on-site.

Through the selection of these four players, we can infer coach Hong Myung-bo's intentions to some extent. He seems to be considering both current abilities and future potential while trying to blend players with various league experiences. It will be interesting to see how these new players harmonize with the existing squad and bring new vitality to the team.

Four New Players Do Not Make a Generational Change? New Energy in Fullbacks, but Over-reliance on Veterans in Other Positions Needs to Be Addressed.

Although four new faces have appeared in Hong Myung-bo’s first roster, it is generally viewed as a conservative selection. The continued selection of older players, who were previously excluded due to age or recent poor form, has raised eyebrows among many.

The most notable return is that of Kim Young-gwon (Ulsan HD FC). He was excluded from the squad under the previous interim coach, Kim Do-hoon. Considering his age (33) and recent form, his selection is criticized as a "return to the past." Similarly, Jung Woo-young (Ulsan HD FC) was also reselected despite being 34 years old.

In the defensive midfield position, Jung Woo-young and Park Yong-woo were selected again. Jung is the oldest player on the national team, and while Park has shown top-level performance in his club team, he is often criticized for making mistakes in the national team. Given that this position is considered a significant weakness for the South Korean team, bolder generational changes are needed, according to critics.

There’s also controversy surrounding the striker position. Due to the injury of Cho Gue-sung and the poor form of Oh Hyun-gyu, Joo Min-kyu and Oh Se-hoon were reselected. However, Joo is facing overwork and aging issues, and Oh is not currently showing good form. Considering their recent performance, it’s questionable how effective this choice will be. If it doesn't work, coach Hong is expected to experiment with deploying Son Heung-min and Hwang Hee-chan as strikers.

On the other hand, the fullback position brings some fresh energy. The selections of Hwang Mun-ki and Choi Woo-jin are expected to inject new life into this position. Hwang’s stable defense and active overlapping in the K-League could offer the national team new options.

Moreover, the inclusion of several players from Ulsan Hyundai, where Hong Myung-bo previously coached, has led to criticisms of "network football." Cho Hyun-woo, Kim Young-gwon, and Lee Myung-jae are notable examples.