South Korea's anxious World Cup campaign.

The South Korean national team entered the 2026 World Cup with an impressive qualifying record, but behind their 16-match unbeaten streak lay a series of question marks that shook the confidence of their fans.

Few Asian teams arrive at the World Cup with as much anxiety as South Korea does right now. They have no shortage of stars, experience, or ambition. However, a sense of unease still hangs over coach Hong Myung-bo's team before their departure to North America.

South Korea's 16-match unbeaten run in the qualifiers is an impressive achievement.

The first thing that worried the South Koreans was the tactical ambiguity. Throughout the qualifiers, Hong had remained almost completely loyal to a four-defender system. But when World Cup qualification was practically assured, he unexpectedly switched to a 3-4-3 formation in the final match. A belated and risky change.

Last-minute change

The problem is that South Korea doesn't have many quality "wing-backs" to operate this system. The experiments were too rushed, leaving the team insufficient time to build cohesion. The World Cup is not the place for tactical experiments.

Hong Myung-bo understood this. He tried to reassure the public by stating that the team needed flexibility to adapt to different opponents. But the more he talked about "flexibility," the clearer it became that South Korea had yet to find a stable identity ahead of the biggest tournament on the planet.

The second concern stems from the condition of key players. Son Heung-min is no longer in the prime of his career. His recent time at LAFC has raised many questions about the South Korean captain's fitness and motivation to play.

Kim Min-jae's form declined at Bayern after a turbulent season. Lee Kang-in lacked consistency and was only a backup option at Paris Saint Germain. Hwang In-beom struggled with recurring injuries.

A team aiming to go far in the World Cup needs a strong and stable core. Right now, South Korea feels like a machine running with too many malfunctioning components.

Son Heung-min is showing signs of stagnation in MLS.

It's worth noting that the qualifying rounds were so easy that they somewhat masked those problems. South Korea went undefeated in all 16 matches, finished 6 points ahead of Jordan, and easily secured their place in the next round. But entering the World Cup is a completely different story.

In this arena, just one moment of lapse in concentration is enough to cause everything to fall apart. A team lacking tactical certainty and not in top physical condition will find it very difficult to spring a surprise.

Hong Myung-bo is also under pressure. He led South Korea at the 2014 World Cup and left the tournament without winning a single match. The memory of that failure has never faded.

Following the chaotic period after Jurgen Klinsmann's departure, fans expected Hong to bring stability. But so far, he has yet to inspire complete confidence.

Confidence is wavering.

Even within South Korea, the relationship between the national team and the public is no longer as enthusiastic as before. The Guardian predicts that not many South Korean fans will travel to North America to support the team. This is not just a matter of geographical distance, but also reflects skepticism towards the South Korean Football Association and the current coaching staff.

The star-studded South Korean squad still gives fans reason to be optimistic.

Of course, South Korea still has reason to hope. Son Heung-min remains the biggest icon of Asian football. Lee Kang-in is capable of making a difference on a good day. Oh Hyeon-gyu is emerging as a promising attacking option after his good form at Besiktas.

But hope is one thing, and reality is another story of those June days in North America.

The 2022 World Cup saw South Korea defeat Portugal to advance from the group stage in a crazy night in Qatar.

However, the feeling ahead of the 2026 World Cup is completely different. Back then, South Korea entered the tournament with the spirit of a team full of energy and confidence. Now, they arrive in North America with too many unresolved worries.

Source: https://znews.vn/ky-world-cup-day-lo-au-cua-han-quoc-post1654992.html