'From just one A-match to World Cup squad member': Lee Ki-hyeok's stunning turnaround, Coach Hong Myung-bo's surprise selection explained: "I watched the game myself..." [Gwanghwamun On-site]

*This content was translated by AI.

The biggest twist and most radical choice in the final 26-man roster of the Taegeuk Warriors who will compete at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America is the sudden selection of Kangwon FC's key multi-player Lee Ki-hyeok (25).

Hong Myung-bo, head coach of the South Korea national football team, held a press conference at 4 p.m. on the 16th at West Onmadang, KT Gwanghwamun Building, Jongno-gu, Seoul, and suddenly revealed the final World Cup roster.

This roster is the final result of a fierce selection process that has continued for the past two years. The selection principle emphasized by Coach Hong on multiple occasions—top performance as of May—was thoroughly reflected.

While core European-based players who support both offense and defense, such as captain Son Heung-min (LAFC), Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich), and Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain), were included without any surprises, Lee Ki-hyeok was confidently named alongside domestic league standouts like Lee Dong-gyeong (Ulsan HD).

Lee Ki-hyeok's selection for the final World Cup roster is nothing short of a stunning turnaround. His only A-match appearance was a single game in the EAFF E-1 Championship in July 2022 during the tenure of coach Paulo Bento. Lee Ki-hyeok, who had been completely disconnected from the national team, was not called up even once after Hong Myung-bo's team was established, but he became a Cinderella story with a surprise selection just before the most important stage of the World Cup finals.

The reason Coach Hong Myung-bo chose Lee Ki-hyeok after intense debates and careful consideration regarding the defensive midfielder and central defender positions was clear. It was due to his overwhelming performance with his club team, Kangwon, and his versatile multi-player ability. A former midfielder, Lee Ki-hyeok primarily played as a central defender in 13 league matches Kangwon played this season, delivering outstanding performances. Leveraging his excellent football intelligence and precise passing skills typical of a midfielder, he perfectly fulfilled the role of Kangwon's starting center-back, serving as the starting point for backline build-up play.

At the press conference, Coach Hong Myung-bo recalled his memory of personally inspecting Kangwon FC. Coach Hong stated, "I thought multi-player ability is important for this World Cup due to various variables such as travel distance, climate, and time differences. Lee Ki-hyeok is a versatile player who can play both as a midfielder and a full-back. I watched Kangwon's matches, and Lee Ki-hyeok was the core of Kangwon's tactics," praising him highly.

Continuing, Coach Hong said, "I also had direct conversations with the coaching staff of his club team, and I felt that his performance and confidence were at their peak. While there are certainly strengths and weaknesses as a defender, I felt that his defensive ability has improved significantly compared to before. He will work to compensate for any shortcomings during training in the remaining period," expressing strong trust.

Meanwhile, with the final roster confirmed, the Hong Myung-bo-led national team has officially entered the finals phase. The team will depart for Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, the pre-camp site, on the 18th, two days later, with the first group consisting of domestic players from the K League, including Coach Hong, and staff. The Cha Ri-neun (CEO) team will hold a camp in Salt Lake City to adapt to the high altitude. After playing two friendly matches against Trinidad and Tobago on May 31 and El Salvador on June 4, the team plans to enter the base camp in Guadalajara, Mexico, the decisive venue on June 5, and prepare for the first group stage match against the Czech Republic on June 12.

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

*This content was translated by AI.