"11th consecutive WC → 'heatwave' should be erased from Iraq" Coach Hong Myung-bo said, "I trust the players, I will win points." Full trust...Hwang In-beom, "I'll take good results."
"11th consecutive WC → 'heatwave' should be erased from Iraq" Coach Hong Myung-bo said, "I trust the players, I will win points." Full trust...Hwang In-beom, "I'll take good results."
Blog Article
Hong Myung-bo, who is heading for the 11th consecutive World Cup finals, is ready to play.
South Korea will play its ninth Group B match against Iraq at 3:15 a.m. on Tuesday (Korea time) at Basra International Stadium in Iraq for the third Asian qualifying round for the 2026 North-China World Cup. The Taegeuk Warriors completed their training to adapt to the ground in a battleground on Tuesday.
In the last quenching, in which all 26 players, including Son Heung-min (Tottenham) and Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain), participated, various attack patterns and set-piece training such as free kicks and corner kicks were also conducted.
There are only two more matches left in the third qualifying round. Following the match against Iraq, Team Hong Myung-bo will have a final match against Kuwait at 8 p.m. on Tuesday at Seoul World Cup Stadium.
The Republic of Korea maintains the top position in Group B with 16 points (four wins, four draws). Jordan is ranked second with 13 points (three wins, four draws and one loss), and Iraq is third with 12 points (three wins, one draw and two losses). Oman ranks fourth with 10 points (three wins, one draw and four losses), while Palestine (six points, one win, three draws and four losses) and Kuwait (five draws and three losses).
In the third qualifying round, the first and second place in each group will win a ticket to the finals of the World Cup finals. The third and fourth places will go to the fourth qualifying round, while the fifth and sixth places will be eliminated. Korea will secure at least the second place in its group if it secures a tie in the two matches.
The best scenario is that South Korea will decide whether to fly to North Korea, China and the U.S. in Iraq. South Korea ranks 23rd in the FIFA rankings, while Iraq ranks 59th. The South is dominant with 10 wins, 12 draws, and two losses in A-match matches. However, away matches are always an elusive road. An away match in the Middle East is more difficult in June. The local time of the match is 9 p.m., but the temperature far exceeds 30 degrees Celsius. The humidity is also high and the South even blows hot wind.
"Tomorrow's game will definitely not be easy. I think there will be difficulties in every aspect," Hong told an official press conference on Monday, a day before the showdown. "I trust the players from the manager's point of view. They have been doing well so far, and I expect them to perform well tomorrow. I will prepare well today so that I can win points."
Hwang In-beom (Feyenoord), who was present at the press conference, said, "It is an important game in whether or not we can advance to the World Cup. It is not as burdensome as we have to play away games and face a good team called Iraq, but we prepared well as the team came together. I believe that if we can show well on the field, we can have good games and good results."
Hong Myung-bo's away performance is better than home in the third qualifying round. It had only one win and three draws at home, while it had three wins and one draw at away games. Korea should continue its upbeat mood in Iraq.
The Taegeuk Warriors have a strong will. "It's time for the players to yield results," said Seol Young-woo (Zvezda), an "all-round fullback" who had a successful first season in Europe. Lee Tae-seok (Pohang), 스포츠토토 who has emerged as the future of Korean soccer's defense, also expressed his determination, saying, "We have to win this match somehow. Only then can we win the ticket to the World Cup finals."