'06-born youngest' to stay until the end of the World Cup: How Hong Myung-bo's 'radical addition' came to be "You have to feel the pressure yourself..." [Gwanghwamun on the ground]

*This content was translated by AI.

'As the final 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America is confirmed, attention is also on the growth of three 'reserve players outside the roster' who are traveling with the Chae (CEO) team despite not even being assigned a jersey number.

'On the 16th, at the West Onmadang of the KT Gwanghwamun Building in Jongno-gu, Seoul, Hong Myung-bo, head coach of the South Korean national team, announced the final roster and revealed that he had selected three promising players as reserve squad members: midfielder Kang Sang-yoon (22), defender Jo Wi-je (25, both from Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors), and goalkeeper Yoon Ki-wook (20, from FC Seoul).

'According to the Korea Football Association, Jo Wi-je and Kang Sang-yoon will travel to the pre-tournament camp in Salt Lake City, USA, while the youngest, Yoon Ki-wook, will accompany the team to the main tournament in Guadalajara, Mexico, serving as training partners for the national squad.

'Although they did not make the final 26-man roster, their participation recalls the path taken by a senior player who used such opportunities as a springboard for rapid growth. This is the journey of Oh Hyun-kyu (Beşiktaş), who has now firmly established himself as a key striker for Hong Myung-bo's team.

'Just four years ago, during the 2022 Qatar World Cup, Oh Hyun-kyu was not included in the final roster and boarded the flight to Qatar as a reserve member, little more than a 'development player.' At the time, former coach Paulo Bento made the selection with the possibility of replacing Son Heung-min (LAFC), who suffered an orbital bone fracture, and Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton), who was dealing with a hamstring injury, in mind. Although the roster could be modified up to 24 hours before the start of the group stage's first match, meaning there was still a slim chance of being selected, ultimately, the opportunity never came.

'At the time, Oh Hyun-kyu, who had no jersey number, even took on the role of a ball boy, picking up balls for his seniors as they warmed up before matches, silently sweating. Although he never stepped onto the pitch, he kept the existing 26 players on their toes both inside and outside the training ground, sharing in the highs and lows of the squad until Korea's World Cup journey ended. Oh Hyun-kyu, who experienced the world's best stage firsthand and kept his eyes wide open, grew rapidly by feeding on the memories of Qatar, and has now completely transformed into a key forward responsible for leading the front line of the national team.

'Hong Myung-bo's decision to suddenly select three reserve players ahead of this North American World Cup was also driven by the expectation of such development effects. Coach Hong said, "The national team must also think about the next cycle," and explained the background of the selection by adding, "I wanted them to experience firsthand what standards and attitudes the Seon Su-deul-i (CEO) team brings to training. Learning in advance about the pressure and burden of preparing for an international tournament will greatly help their growth."

'The three players summoned by Hong Myung-bo are no less than future leaders capable of guiding the Cha Se-dae (CEO) team. Kang Sang-yoon is a top-tier promising midfielder who has already tested his skills with the A national team. Jo Wi-je is a large center-back prospect who has convincingly demonstrated his overwhelming aerial dominance and solid defensive abilities without exaggeration, scoring two goals in 12 K League 1 matches this season. The youngest, 19-year-old goalkeeper Yoon Ki-wook (FC Seoul), has been consistently called up to age-group national teams and is highly regarded for his future potential as the next generation's goalkeeper, thanks to his natural physical attributes and excellent ball control.

'Just as Oh Hyun-kyu, who once served as a training assistant for Bento's team, has now become a confident mainstay of Hong Myung-bo's squad, attention is on how much Kang Sang-yoon, Jo Wi-je, and Yoon Ki-wook, who will experience the pressure of North America firsthand, will grow into the next generation of Korean football by using this participation as a springboard.

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*This content was translated by AI.