The countdown to the 2026 FIFA World Cup is officially reaching a fever pitch. South Korea (Korea Republic) has become the first of Bafana Bafana’s Group A rivals to locked in their final 26-man roster, bringing a dangerous mix of elite European experience and proven tournament pedigree to the tournament in the Americas.
The Asian powerhouses are braced for a grueling Group A battlefront alongside South Africa, the Czech Republic, and co-hosts Mexico.
Son Heung-min Ready for a Historic Fourth World Cup
To absolutely no one’s surprise, veteran captain and talisman Son Heung-min headlines the squad. The legendary forward is set to feature in his fourth consecutive FIFA World Cup, anchoring an attack that expects to cause serious headaches for Group A defenses.
Head coach Hong Myung-bo has padded the roster with world-class talent playing at the absolute pinnacle of European club football:
- The Wall: Towering Bayern Munich center-back Kim Min-jae will marshal the defense.
- The Maestro: Paris Saint-Germain’s creative livewire Lee Kang-in is tasked with pulling the strings in midfield.
- The Engine: Wolves’ Premier League star Hwang Hee-chan brings raw pace and clinical finishing to the flanks.
David vs. Goliaths: Bafana Bafana’s Goliath Task
For Hugo Broos and Bafana Bafana, South Korea’s star-studded roster announcement lays bare the massive hill South Africa has to climb. The latest FIFA world rankings underscore the underdog status of the rainbow nation in this “Group of Death”:
- Mexico: 15th
- Korea Republic: 26th
- Czech Republic: 41st
- South Africa: 60th
South African football fans won’t have to wait much longer to see how Broos counters this firepower. The final Bafana Bafana World Cup squad announcement is locked in for Wednesday, 27 May.
Group A Full Fixture List (SA Time)
Set your alarms early! Because of the time zones in North America, South African fans face some midnight and early-morning kick-offs:
Bafana Bafana Fixtures
- ⚽️ Thursday, 11 June (Opening Match): Mexico vs. South Africa – Estadio Azteca, Mexico City (21:00)
- ⚽️ Thursday, 18 June: Czech Republic vs. South Africa – Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta (18:00)
- ⚽️ Thursday, 25 June: South Africa vs. Korea Republic – Estadio BBVA, Guadalupe (03:00)
Other Group A Clashes
- Friday, 12 June: Korea Republic vs. Czech Republic (04:00)
- Friday, 19 June: Mexico vs. Korea Republic (03:00)
- Thursday, 25 June: Czech Republic vs. Mexico (03:00)
Full Korea Republic 2026 World Cup Squad
- Goalkeepers: Jo Hyeon-woo (Ulsan), Kim Seung-gyu (FC Tokyo), Song Bum-keun (Jeonbuk)
- Defenders: Kim Moon-hwan (Daejeon), Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich), Kim Tae-hyon (Kashima Antlers), Park Jin-seob (Zhejiang), Seol Young-woo (Red Star Belgrade), Jens Castrop (Borussia Monchengladbach), Lee Ki-hyuk (Gangwon), Lee Tae-seok (Austria Wien), Lee Han-beom (Midtjylland), Cho Yu-min (Sharjah)
- Midfielders: Kim Jin-gyu (Jeonbuk), Bae Jun-ho (Stoke City), Paik Seung-ho (Birmingham), Yang Hyun-jun (Celtic), Eom Ji-sung (Swansea), Lee Kang-in (Paris St-Germain), Lee Dong-gyeong (Ulsan), Lee Jae-sung (Mainz), Hwang In-beom (Feyenoord), Hwang Hee-chan (Wolves)
- Forwards: Son Heung-min (LAFC), Oh Hyeon-gyu (Besitkas), Cho Gue-sung (Midtjylland)
