Son Heung-min will lead South Korea in the debut of the 2026 World Cup. The captain and biggest reference of the Asian team faces the Czech Republic this Thursday, starting at 11pm (Brasília time), at the Akron stadium, in Jalisco, Mexico. The duel opens the first round of Group A, which also includes Mexico and South Africa.
At 33, Son is competing in his fourth World Cup. He arrives at the tournament after changing career paths, leaving Tottenham to play for Los Angeles FC, in the United States. The experience in MLS has been positive in terms of adapting to the North American environment, which can be an advantage in matches played on Mexican and American soil.
The striker has scored more than 50 goals for the South Korean national team and is close to equaling or surpassing Cha Bum-kun’s historic record. In recent interviews, Son has spoken openly about the possibility of this being his last participation in a World Cup. “We will give everything”, assured the captain when commenting on the group’s excitement for the opening game. He highlighted that he sees the motivation in his teammates’ eyes.
South Korea arrives at the tournament with an undefeated campaign in the Asian Qualifiers: 11 wins and five draws. In 2022, in Qatar, the team stopped in the round of 16 against Brazil. Now, with Son as a technical and emotional leader, the expectation is to advance to the next stage and repeat or surpass that campaign.
Son Heung-min’s trajectory towards the fourth World Cup
Born in Chuncheon, Son began his career in Europe at a young age and established himself as one of the main names in Asian football. At Tottenham, he became an idol when he won the Premier League Golden Boot. The transfer to LAFC, in 2025, represented a new chapter. Despite a season with solid assist numbers, he went through a period of goal drought, but joked that he was “saving it” for the World Cup.
This mentality of preparing specifically for the tournament reflects the discipline that has always marked his career. Son has overcome injuries and physical challenges throughout his career. At 33, he combines experience with leadership, distributing responsibilities between young talents such as Paris Saint-Germain’s Lee Kang-in and Bayern Munich’s solid defender Kim Min-jae.
Coach Hong Myung-bo assembled a balanced team. The scheme usually has Son playing more open on the left or centrally, with speed in transitions and a populated midfield to provide support. In the preparatory friendlies, South Korea thrashed Trinidad and Tobago 5-0 and beat El Salvador 1-0, showing offensive power even without pushing maximum pace.
Czech Republic seeks to surprise after long hiatus
On the other hand, the Czech Republic returns to a World Cup after 20 years. The European team finished second in the qualifiers and secured a place in the repechage, eliminating Ireland and Denmark on penalties. The style is physical, strong in the air and with infiltrations from the right side, especially with Vladimir Coufal.
Patrik Schick, from Bayer Leverkusen, is the main reference in attack. Coach Miroslav Kouvek is betting on an organized defense to neutralize Son’s talent. The match tends to be balanced, with South Korea having a technical advantage, but needing to overcome the Czech aerial game.
Stadium and context of the match
The Akron stadium, in Guadalajara, hosts the clash as one of the World Cup venues. The venue has a good structure and should have a good presence of South Korean fans, known for their passion and organization in the stands.
The transmission is carried out by Cazé TV, with ge following in real time. For South Korea, the game represents the first step towards a greater goal: leaving the group and dreaming of quarter-finals or more, something that has only been achieved once in history, in 2002, when they hosted the competition alongside Japan.
What changes for Son and the national team
Playing “at home” on the American continent is a factor mentioned by Son himself. Adapting to the time zone and MLS style of play can help the captain maintain his physical pace throughout the tournament. He has already demonstrated in interviews his desire to repeat the good performance of 2022, when he led the team to the round of 16.
Son’s legacy goes beyond goals. He is idolized in South Korea as an example of dedication. His story includes rigorous training since childhood and an early choice to pursue a career in Europe. This mentality inspires younger teammates.
The Czech Republic, in turn, enters as underdogs, but with high morale after the playoff. The duel pits experience against collective organization. Son should have freedom to create, but will need support to overcome the tight marking.
Probable lineups and arbitration
South Korea — coach: Hong Myung-boProbable lineup: Jo Hyeonwoo; Lee Hanbeom, Kim Minjae and Lee Gihyuk; Seol Youngwoo, Hwang Inbeom, Lee Jaesung and Lee Taeseok; Lee Kangin, Hwang Heechan and Son Heung-min.
Czech Republic — coach: Miroslav KouvekProbable lineup: Matej Kovár; Chaloupek, Robin Hranác and Ladislav Krejcí; Vladimír Coufal, Vladimír Darida, Tomáš Soucek, Lukáš Provod, Pavel Šulc and Jaroslav Zelený; Patrick Schick.
Arbitration
- Referee: Amin Mohamed (Egypt)
- Assistant 1: Mahmoud Abouelregal (Egypt)
- Assistant 2: Ahmed Hossam Taha (Egypt)
- Fourth referee: Juan Calderon (Costa Rica)
- VAR: Mahmoud Ashour (Egypt)
- VAR Assistant: Joe Dickerson (United States)
Where to watch
- Broadcast: Cazé TV
- Real time: ge follows all bids.
The match marks the beginning of South Korea’s journey to the World Cup. With Son Heung-min at the height of leadership, the South Korean fans dream big. This Thursday’s result could set the tone for the campaign in Group A.
