Cho Hyun-woo, who disappeared after the nightmare of the Brazil match, is actually "the last chance."

*This content was translated by AI.

The South Korean national soccer team has entered its final mock test ahead of the 2026 FIFA 2026 FIFA North and Central America World Cup. Since then, the schedule of the national team is likely to be the announcement of the final entry of the World Cup and a warm-up match in Mexico, so it is a two-game series of warm-up matches that will also reveal the outline of the competition for the main.

The national soccer team, which is training in London, England, will play two warm-up matches against Ivory Coast at 11 p.m. on the 28th (Korea Standard Time) in Milton Keynes, England, and Austria at 3:45 a.m. on the 1st of next month in Vienna, Austria. It is actually the last warm-up match to be played with 80 days left before the opening of the World Cup.

The competition to join the final entry of the World Cup has actually entered the end. However, there are also positions where the entry has been virtually confirmed. It is a goalkeeper with Kim Seung-gyu (FC Tokyo), Cho Hyun-woo (Ulsan HD), and Song Bum-keun (Jeonbuk Hyundai). Although the change was significant immediately after the appointment of Hong Myung-bo, there has been no change in the number of call-ups for the fourth consecutive time since September last year, when it was switched to full-fledged World Cup mode. There are some goalkeepers who are performing well in the K League, but it is not easy for coach Hong to change his goalkeeper's camp, as there are goalkeepers who will surpass them right away.

In fact, Kim Seung-gyu and Cho Hyun-woo compete for the main position, followed by Song Bum-keun. Kim Seung-gyu and Cho Hyun-woo's long-standing competition for gatekeepers continues under coach Hong Myung-bo. Earlier in the Asian qualifying round for 2026 FIFA North and Central America World Cup, Cho Hyun-woo was the "built-in main player" in line with Kim Seung-gyu's injury. At one point, he played as a starter in 18 consecutive A matches, so his position as a starting member of the national team was strong. However, after the World Cup qualifying round, the situation changed rapidly as Kim Seung-gyu recovered from his injury and returned to the national team.

The 0-5 defeat against Brazil in October last year was decisive. At that time, Cho Hyun-woo showed his unique ability to save several times, but in the end, he failed to prevent five runs. Coincidentally, Cho Hyun-woo's "last A-match appearance," which has been the main goalkeeper for a long time, remains this game. Since then, Cho Hyun-woo has been sitting on the bench for three straight A matches. Instead, Kim Seung-gyu defended the goal against Paraguay and Bolivia in October and November last year, and against Ghana, which was the last A match last year. It was the first time that Cho Hyun-woo failed to play in three consecutive games since he failed to play in four consecutive games since the end of 2023.

Moreover, while Cho Hyun-woo was shunned by head coach Hong, Kim Seung-gyu showed his presence by playing both Paraguay and Bolivia in scoreless games. He also showed his ability to defend himself through super saves. Even during the match against Ghana, when Kim Seung-gyu was out due to injury, coach Hong Myung-bo did not give Cho Hyun-woo another chance, but handed Song Bum-keun a goalie glove. In line with the situation of Cho Hyun-woo, who only kept the bench for three consecutive A matches, the competition for the main goalkeeper has also changed significantly.

Attention is focusing on coach Hong Myung-bo's choice in the two consecutive games, which will lead to Ivory Coast and Austria. Song Bum-keun was tested in the last A match last year, but the main competition is still close to the two-way race between Kim Seung-gyu and Cho Hyun-woo. As it is actually the last mock test before the World Cup, coach Hong is also likely to give Cho Hyun-woo a chance in one of the two consecutive games. In the end, it is important how Cho Hyun-woo takes the opportunity.

If Cho Hyun-woo sheds his disappointment against Brazil last year and shows his unique ability to defend himself, coach Hong Myung-bo's concerns about the main goalkeeper could deepen even just before the World Cup stage. Cho Hyun-woo's flow this season is good. He allowed only two runs in 14 K-League games and blocked two scoreless games. According to Bipro, Cho Hyun-woo's defense rate as of the 24th was 84.6%, ranking first in the entire K League 1 among goalkeepers who played more than three games. It is important for the national team to continue the momentum at the beginning of the steep season.

However, on the contrary, if he fails to perform well enough to appeal to head coach Hong Myung-bo, the competition for the main goalkeeper in 2026 FIFA North and Central America World Cup is likely to end virtually unless Kim Seung-gyu, who is likely to play in the remaining game, makes a fatal mistake. Cho Hyun-woo may have to keep his Hong Myung-bo Team goal throughout the last World Cup qualifying round and stay as the "backup goalkeeper" for the second consecutive World Cup following the 2022 Qatar tournament. In the end, Cho Hyun-woo's de facto final World Cup fate will also be determined by how he takes the last chance.

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*This content was translated by AI.