"A single game four years ago" — Even Japan was surprised by Lee Ki-hyeok's sudden selection... Hong Myung-bo highly praised his 'multi-capability'

*This content was translated by AI.

Lee Ki-hyeok (26), a defender for K League 1 club Gangwon FC, has been unexpectedly selected for the final 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America. Japanese media also highlighted the news.

On the 16th, Hong Myung-bo, head coach of the South Korean national team, held a press conference at the West Onmadang of the KT Gwanghwamun Building in Jongno-gu, Seoul, and announced the final 26-man roster for the 2026 World Cup. Along with captain and "ace striker" Son Heung-min (LAFC), key players such as Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich) and Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain) were included, and Lee Ki-hyeok also made the list, earning a chance to step onto the "dream stage."

This year, Lee Ki-hyeok is considered one of the top defenders in K League 1. As a key defender for Gangwon, he has played 13 matches in K League 1, recording an average of 3.69 aerial duels per game (12th in the league), 4.92 clearances per game (15th), 2.54 ball blocks per game (10th), and 11.31 ball recoveries per game (2nd). Although his height of 184 cm is not exceptionally tall, he dominated opposing attackers with intelligent timing and powerful strength. Last year, Lee Ki-hyeok struggled due to the aftermath of a stress fracture. This year, his physical condition improved, and he translated that directly into his performance on the field.

Another strength of Lee Ki-hyeok is his multi-position capability. He can play as a center-back, full-back, and even midfielder. This year, Gangwon head coach Jeong Kyung-ho, unlike in previous seasons, primarily deployed Lee Ki-hyeok as a center-back to provide stability. However, depending on the team's situation, he can contribute from various positions.

Lee Ki-hyeok has played only one official international match in his career. He appeared in one game during the 2022 EAFF E-1 Championship under former coach Paulo Bento. He had no connection with the team under Hong Myung-bo. Although he was called up to the national team under coach Hong Myung-bo, he did not get a chance to play. This is why, despite his outstanding performances this year, he had no certainty about making the final World Cup squad. However, despite various concerns, he succeeded in winning over coach Hong Myung-bo's trust.

Japan also took interest in Lee Ki-hyeok's selection. Japanese outlet Gekisaka reported, "Korean media have uniformly described Lee Ki-hyeok, who made the final World Cup squad, as a 'sudden selection.' Lee Ki-hyeok has only played one match for the South Korean national team — the 2022 E-1 Championship match against Hong Kong in 2022. Even under the current head coach Hong Myung-bo, he was called up to the national team in November 2024 but did not get a chance to play. Since then, he has not even been called up. Yet, this player has made it into the final North America World Cup roster."

The report continued, "Coach Hong Myung-bo highly evaluated Lee Ki-hyeok's ability to play in various positions, including center-back, left full-back, and defensive midfielder. Additionally, with South Korean defender Kim Ju-sung (Sanfrecce Hiroshima) suffering an injury during an A-match in March, Lee Ki-hyeok was dramatically included in the final roster."

After being selected for the final roster, Lee Ki-hyeok stated through Gangwon FC, "This is a stage that every football player dreams of, and I am extremely happy to have the opportunity to go there. I will do my best to show even better performances at the World Cup in response to the support I have received."

Furthermore, Lee Ki-hyeok emphasized, "I prepared for the World Cup with genuine urgency, desperation, and determination. Now that I have been selected for the national team, I believe I must play with even greater urgency than anyone else. If I get a chance to play, I am ready to play with the same level of desperation. I understand that there were many players on the preliminary roster, and I must show a responsible attitude befitting a national team player, considering the efforts of those players. Working hard and playing with urgency is what I must do."

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*This content was translated by AI.