"Korea Can Be No. 1 in the World Cup Group" Dark Horse Evaluation came out, and only 4 teams were selected, including 韓· and 日등선정

*This content was translated by AI.

It was evaluated that the South Korean national soccer team is a "dark horse" that can seek to rank first in Group A in the group stage of the 2026 FIFA North American World Cup finals. Although the FIFA ranking is somewhat lower than other teams, it is evaluated that it has the potential to seek the top spot in the group.

Canadian media Last Word On Sports analyzed notable dark horses in the North American World Cup group stage on the 1st (Korea Standard Time), highlighting the Korean national team as "a team that can surprise not only Group A but also the entire tournament." South Korea was in Group A with the winner of the UEFA playoff pass D (Denmark, Czech Republic, Ireland, and North Macedonia), as well as hosts Mexico and South Africa.

"South Korea may not be noticeable as a candidate for the top spot in Group A, but it was the only one to be undefeated as it passed the World Cup Asian qualifiers smoothly," the media said. "This stability is key because it is more important to avoid bad results than to overwhelm the opponent in the short-term group stage."

"Rather than relying on tactics, South Korea is a good team at leading the flow of the game, aiming for opportunities and punishing opponents' mistakes. This is appropriate as a strategy to take away points against strong teams in the group stage, he said, adding, "Korea's organizational power and determination open the way for points from all opponents in Group A."

Attention was also paid to the existence of key player Son Heung-min (LAFC). The media said, "Son Heung-min is still one of the most reliable players on the international stage. South Korea is a team led by a proven star player who shines on the big stage, he said. "You don't need perfection to be at the top of the group. You only need to win one game with a steady performance. South Korea is a dark horse that is likely to pass the group stage and become No. 1 in the group."

Not only Korea, but also Canada in Group B, Turkiye in Group D, and Japan in Group F were noted as dark horses that could challenge for the top spot in each group league. Four teams, including South Korea, have drawn attention as dark horses in the 12 groups.

Regarding Japan, the media said, "In terms of dividend rates, the Netherlands is clearly expected to dominate the group's No. 1 competition, but it is difficult to simply view Japan as a second-place candidate. Japan made a particular presence on the big stage. We beat Spain at the 2022 Qatar Games," he said.

"If the Netherlands produces an unexpected result even in one game, Japan can be ranked first. "Experience, confidence, and the style that afflicts the strong team will be able to evaluate Japan as a true dark horse," he added. Japan was in the same group as the winner of the Netherlands, Tunisia, and UEFA PO Pass B (Ukraine, Poland, Albania, and Sweden).

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.