Updated

Updated · ESPN · Jun 25

South Korea Drops Son Heung-Min for Group A Decider as 33-Year-Old Struggles at 2026 World Cup

Updated

Updated · ESPN · Jun 25

South Korea Drops Son Heung-Min for Group A Decider as 33-Year-Old Struggles at 2026 World Cup

Q: Is benching Son Heung-Min a coach's masterstroke or the fatal blow to South Korea's World Cup campaign?

It looks more like a fatal blow than a masterstroke. Hong Myung-Bo’s logic was understandable. Son Heung-min had been ineffective in the first two matches, recording very few touches and struggling in a 5-2-3 system that used him as a central No. 9 rather than in the wider, freer role where he is most dangerous. Oh Hyeon-gyu had a strong case to start after scoring the winner against Czechia, and Hong also adjusted the flanks with Lee Tae-seok and Hwang Hee-chan to better fit the demands of the back-three setup. But the evidence from the South Africa match points against the gamble. South Korea lost 1-0, despite dominating possession at 69.3%, and produced only 0.63 expected goals. That suggests the team had control of the ball but lacked cutting edge, exactly the risk in removing its most proven attacker from the starting lineup in a decisive game. The deeper issue may be less Son himself than the system around him. Analysts noted that Hong’s shape restricted Son’s involvement, asking him to perform pressing and link-up duties that do not maximize his strengths. In that sense, benching him addressed the symptom, not the cause. So while the decision was a bold tactical attempt to solve a real problem, the immediate outcome makes it hard to call it inspired. In a match South Korea could not afford to lose, leaving out Son appears to have weakened their margin for error and badly damaged their World Cup campaign.

3 articles · Updated · ESPN · Jun 25

Hong Myung-Bo left captain Son Heung-Min out of South Korea's starting XI for Wednesday's must-win Group A match against South Africa, replacing him up front with Oh Hyeon-Gyu.
Son's demotion followed two quiet starts: he managed just 37 touches against Czechia and 19 against Mexico, the fewest among South Korea's starting outfielders in both games.
Hong's 5-2-3 setup has limited Son in a central No. 9 role, and the 33-year-old was substituted in the 69th minute against Czechia and the 57th against Mexico.
Oh offers recent attacking evidence after scoring the winner off the bench in the opener, while Lee Tae-Seok and Hwang Hee-Chan also come in after South Korea's 1-0 loss to Mexico.
The selection underlines how sharply South Korea's World Cup stakes have risen, with Son still seeking his first tournament goal since 2018 after also failing to score in Qatar.