'World Cup fate ultimately diverged': Hwang In-beom and Kim Ju-seong, both sidelined by injury, share mixed emotions

*This content was translated by AI.

The final 26-player roster for the 2026 FIFA North America World Cup has been announced. Due to injuries, the fates of Hwang In-beom (30, Feyenoord) and Kim Ju-seong (26, Sanfrecce Hiroshima), who were sidelined from their respective clubs, ultimately diverged.

Head coach Hong Myung-bo held a press conference at 4 p.m. on the 16th at Seoul Jongno-gu KT Gwanghwamun Building West Onmadang to announce the final World Cup roster. The list consists of 26 final players and three future asset candidate training partners.

The fates of Hwang In-beom and Kim Ju-seong, whose participation in the final World Cup roster had been uncertain due to injuries, ultimately diverged. Hwang In-beom made the final World Cup roster, while Kim Ju-seong was forced to postpone his first-ever World Cup challenge to a later date.

As the core of the midfield, Hwang In-beom collapsed after having his instep stepped on by an opponent during a match in March and was ultimately ruled out for the season, recently returning to Korea. Having been unable to play in competitive matches for a long time, and with his recovery status before the World Cup remaining uncertain, his inclusion in the final roster was also unclear. If Hwang In-beom's departure had been confirmed, it would have been a major setback for the Hong Myung-bo squad.

However, Coach Hong unexpectedly selected Hwang In-beom for the final roster. At the press conference that day, Coach Hong stated, "Through tests, we confirmed his physical condition to a certain extent, and there were no issues with his cardiorespiratory function. While we cannot say his match sharpness is perfect, we believe he can regain it through two friendly matches in the U.S. He is undergoing high-intensity training with the physical coach and is completing the full training load overall." Hwang In-beom is expected to form the midfield of the Hong Myung-bo squad alongside Kim Jin-gyu (Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors), Baek Seung-ho (Birmingham City), and Park Jin-seop (Zhejiang FC).

On the other hand, left-footed center-back Kim Ju-seong ultimately had to give up his World Cup dream. Kim Ju-seong, who first made the A national team under coach Paulo Bento (Portugal), quickly established his presence under Coach Hong Myung-bo and nurtured his World Cup aspirations. Coincidentally, as Coach Hong changed the national team's tactics to a three-back system, the playing space for center-backs like Kim Ju-seong expanded. In fact, Kim Ju-seong consistently competed with fellow left-footed Kim Taehyun (Kashima Antlers) for the left-stopper position in the three-back system.

However, Kim Ju-seong was injured during the "World Cup preparation process," not during a club match. He started in the friendly match against Austria on the 1st but was substituted in the 26th minute of the first half due to a knee injury and struggled to recover even after returning to his club. Some predicted he would recover before the final roster announcement, but Coach Hong ultimately removed Kim Ju-seong's name from the North America World Cup defender list.

Instead, left-footed center-backs Kim Taehyun and Kangwon FC's Lee Ki-hyuk were unexpectedly selected to fill Kim Ju-seong's void. Coach Hong Myung-bo stated, "We had many concerns until the very end in the midfield and central defender positions. Lee Ki-hyuk can play not only as a central defender but also as a midfielder and left full-back." He added, "I want to convey to the players who did not make the final roster that we will never forget the sweat and effort they poured in the process of getting this far."

- GK (3): Cho Hyun-woo (Ulsan HD), Song Beom-geun (Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors), Kim Seung-gyu (FC Tokyo)

- DF (10): Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich), Lee Han-beom (Midtjylland), Kim Taehyun (Kashima Antlers), Cho Yu-min (Sharjah), Seol Young-woo (Crvena Zvezda), Lee Tae-seok (Austria Vienna), Kim Moon-hwan (Daejeon Hana Citizen), Lee Ki-hyuk (Kangwon FC), Jens Castroft (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Park Jin-seop (Zhejiang FC)

- MF (10): Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain), Lee Jae-sung (Mainz), Hwang In-beom (Feyenoord), Kim Jin-gyu (Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors), Yang Hyun-jun (Celtic FC), Lee Dong-gyeong (Ulsan HD), Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton), Eom Ji-seong (Swansea City), Bae Jun-ho (Stoke City), Baek Seung-ho (Birmingham City)

- FW (3): Son Heung-min (LAFC), Oh Hyeon-gyu (Beşiktaş), Cho Gue-sung (Midtjylland)

- Future Asset Candidates 3 Training Partners (3): Jo Wi-je, Kang Sang-yoon (both Jeonbuk), Yoon Gi-wook (FC Seoul)

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*This content was translated by AI.