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By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, May 27 (Yonhap) — South Korea will take seven international rookies to their upcoming pair of World Cup qualifying matches in June.
The Korea Football Association (KFA) on Monday released the 23-man squad list for South Korea’s World Cup qualifying contests against Singapore and China next month.
South Korea will play their final two Group C matches next month to wrap up the second round of Asian qualification for the 2026 World Cup. On June 6, they will face Singapore at the National Stadium in Singapore. Five days later, South Korea will host China at Seoul World Cup Stadium.
To be coached by caretaker manager Kim Do-hoon, South Korea will feature seven players who have never previously played for the senior national team.
This April 16, 2024, file photo provided by the Korea Football Association shows South Korean midfielder Bae Jun-ho. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhahp)
The group includes former stars of underage national teams in forward Oh Se-hun, midfielder Bae Jun-ho, and defenders Hwang Jae-won and Choi Jun.
Goalkeeper Hwang In-jae and defenders Park Seung-wook and Ha Chang-rae have been called up for the first time after never having represented the country at any age level.
They will join some of the usual suspects in longtime captain Son Heung-min, midfielders Lee Kang-in and Hwang In-beom, and goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo.
Conspicuous by their absence will be defender Kim Min-jae and forward Cho Gue-sung.
Kim Do-hoon said Kim Min-jae recently suffered a left ankle injury while playing for Bayern Munich in Germany, while Cho, who recently finished his season in Denmark for FC Midtjylland, is scheduled to undergo surgery to address a nagging right knee injury in early June.
Among others, midfielder Jung Woo-young, a veteran of 72 caps, earned his first callup in 15 months, while another midfielder, Park Yong-woo, is back in the mix after not making the team for the March matches.
In November last year, South Korea defeated Singapore at home 5-0 and then blanked China 3-0 on the road.
South Korea will not have any training session at home prior to their trip to Singapore. Kim will meet with his players at Incheon International Airport on June 2 before leaving for Singapore.
The KFA has not been able to fill the coaching vacancy since firing Jurgen Klinsmann in February following the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup. Kim Do-hoon, former K League head coach, was named the national team's latest caretaker boss last Monday.
In March, South Korea played two World Cup qualifying matches, both against Thailand, with temporary head coach Hwang Sun-hong in charge.
South Korea lead their group with 10 points from three wins and a draw. The top two nations from each of the nine groups will advance to the third round, which will begin in September this year.
South Korea have played at every World Cup since 1986.
This photo provided by the Korea Football Association on May 20, 2024, shows Kim Do-hoon, the latest caretaker manager of the South Korean men's national football team. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
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