Defender Lee Gihyuk becomes a key player in South Korea’s World Cup debut against the Czech Republic

Por Luís Henrique Costa

Publicado em 11 de junho de 2026

Lee Gihyuk - Instagram

The teams from South Korea and the Czech Republic take the field this Thursday for the first match of the 2026 World Cup, with the ball rolling at 11pm (Brasília time). The inaugural clash in Group A, which also hosts teams from Mexico and South Africa, will take place at the imposing Akron Stadium, located in the Mexican city of Zapopan, in the metropolitan region of Guadalajara.

The Asian squad arrives in North America carrying the weight of being one of the strong candidates to advance to the stage, supported by an impeccable cycle in the Asian Qualifiers, where they recorded eleven wins and five draws. This marks the eleventh time in a row that the country has competed in the global tournament, seeking to surpass the performance of the 2022 Qatari edition, when the team ended up being eliminated by the Brazilian team in the round of 16 stage.

On the European side, the Czech Republic ends a two-decade long absence away from the main showcase of world football, as its last appearance took place in 2006, in Germany. The passport to the American continent was stamped with emotion in the UEFA playoff, after the team finished second in its qualifying group and defeated Ireland and Denmark, the latter in a dramatic penalty shootout.

South Korean commander Hong Myungbo structured a squad focused on tactical consistency, but the spotlight in the sports media turned to the presence of Lee Gihyuk. Playing for Gangwon FC, the 25-year-old defender emerged as the big news on the final list and has a real chance of being used during the opening match.

Born in the capital Seoul and born on July 7, 2000, the 1.84m tall athlete stands out for preferably playing in the center of defense using his left foot, a feature that is scarce in the country’s current pool of players. In addition to the defense, his ability to adapt allows him to play roles at left-back or as the first man in midfield, offering a range of valuable alternatives for the coach’s drawing board.

Before packing his bags for the FIFA tournament, the player was the pillar of Gangwon FC’s defensive system during the K-League, the South Korean national championship. The inclusion of his name among the twenty-six called up caused positive astonishment, considering that this is only his fourth call to represent the main team, having made his professional debut for the country in 2022 and having accumulated only three official matches since then.

This ability to float through different sectors of the field is considered its greatest technical virtue. Coach Hong Myungbo himself made a point of publicly highlighting how much he values the young man’s tactical intelligence in rebuilding the back line in different ways, an essential asset in adjusting the marking depending on the offensive style the opponent presents.

Analyzing the probable tactical design of the Asian team, the young defender appears as a potential partner for athletes played in European football, such as Kim Min-jae, star of Bayern Munich, and teammate Lee Han-beom. The rearguard sector will need extra attention and impeccable positioning to neutralize the traditional aerial plays that characterize the Czech style of play.

For the initial clash, South Korea’s starting lineup should take to the field with goalkeeper Jo Hyeonwoo; the defensive line formed by Lee Hanbeom, Kim Minjae and the doubt between Lee Gihyuk or Lee Taeseok; the midfield filled with Seol Youngwoo, Hwang Inbeom, Lee Jaesung and Lee Taeseok; while the attack is under the responsibility of Lee Kangin, Hwang Heechan and star Son Heung-min.

With Son Heung-min as a great technical reference, now defending the colors of Los Angeles FC after a remarkable era at Tottenham in England, the South Korean squad exudes confidence. During the friendly phase, the team defeated Trinidad and Tobago 5-0 and beat El Salvador by the minimum score, demonstrating a playing philosophy based on a professional center forward, a dense creation sector and quick transitions through the side aisles.

Under the command of the experienced Miroslav Koubek, the Czech Republic team promises to impose a lot of physical strength in tackles and in controlling space. The European nation’s hopes of scoring are pinned on the goalscoring talent of Bayer Leverkusen striker Patrik Schick, as well as the dangerous diagonal runs promoted by winger Vladimír Coufal on the right aisle.

The Czech squad should start the match with Matej Kovár under the goalposts; a defensive system composed of Chaloupek, Robin Hranác and Ladislav Krejcí; the midfield congested with Vladimír Coufal, Vladimír Darida, Tomáš Soucek, Lukáš Provod, Pavel Šulc and Jaroslav Zelený; leaving Patrik Schick isolated as the main reference in attacking command.

The Chivas Guadalajara arena, chosen as one of the Mexican stages for the competition, has dimensions and a type of grass that tend to facilitate the European team’s long throws and crosses. This tactical scenario drastically increases the responsibility of Asian defenders, making the possible entry of Gangwon FC’s young left-hander even more strategic for cutting the ball.

The starting whistle will be in charge of Egyptian referee Amin Mohamed, who will be assisted at the flags by his compatriots Mahmoud Abouelregal and Ahmed Hossam Taha, with Costa Rican Juan Calderon as fourth official. The video referee booth will be commanded by Mahmoud Ashour, also from Egypt, with support from the North American Joe Dickerson.

Brazilian fans will be able to follow every step of the match through the live digital broadcast offered by the Cazé TV channel. Additionally, sports news portals, such as ge, will provide coverage in a real-time format with minute-by-minute updates.

Defender’s meteoric rise on the Asian scene

The path taken by the athlete to reach the 2026 World Cup involved stints with teams such as Suwon FC and Jeju United, until he established himself at Gangwon FC at the beginning of 2024. Considering recent seasons, the defender has already surpassed the mark of eighty official matches for his current club, recording impressive statistics in terms of hits and victories in disputes for the top.

The announcement of his name on the final list generated intense discussions on South Korean sports programs. Although much of the press treated the choice as a surprise, the level of excellence maintained by the player in the local championship, being the anchor of one of the least leaky defenses in the country, was the definitive argument to convince the coaching staff.

The rare condition of being a left-handed athlete playing in a sector historically dominated by right-handed players gives the Asian commander a range of variations in his game output. Facing a European team that bases a large part of its strategy on lateral free kicks and corners, having a defender capable of hitting with his left leg on the corresponding side of the field minimizes the risk of errors in the area.

Even with a modest international background, the moment requires the player to be ready to grab the chance of a lifetime. The South Korean coaching staff is fully aware that a short-range tournament, with exhausting matches every three or four days, requires replacement parts that can maintain the level of intensity of the starters.