'Captain Son Heung-min has finally arrived.' Hong Myung-bo's team now has only 'two' left to reach full strength

*This content was translated by AI.

Son Heung-min (34, LAFC), captain of the South Korea national football team, has joined Hong Myung-bo's squad preparing for the 2026 FIFA North American World Cup.

According to the Korea Football Association on the 27th, Son Heung-min traveled to Salt Lake City, Utah, the previous day and arrived at the national team's accommodation late at night. His joining with the national team was delayed compared to other players due to Major League Soccer (MLS) fixtures with his club team, LAFC, on the 25th.

Son Heung-min shared his thoughts on joining via the Football Association, saying, "I am very happy to greet the national team. Since I have been playing in the league in the United States, I expect it will be easy to adapt."

He continued, "This means I can prepare even better, and my physical condition is quite good, so I want to prepare well and show a joyful and fun World Cup." He added, "Although this is my fourth World Cup, I will prepare with the excitement of a first-time participant."

Son Heung-min is set to make his fourth World Cup appearance, following the 2014 Brazil World Cup, the 2018 Russia World Cup, and the 2022 Qatar World Cup. If he participates in this World Cup without any major surprises, he will tie the record for the most World Cup appearances by a Korean player (four times) alongside Hong Myung-bo, Hwang Sun-hong, and Lee Woon-jae.

If he actually plays in matches, he will also share the top spot for World Cup appearances with coach Hong Myung-bo. In this World Cup, Son Heung-min is expected to continue leading the South Korea national football team as its captain and ace.

On this day, Hong Myung-bo's squad saw not only Son Heung-min but also Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton), Cho Gue-sung (Midtjylland), and Park Jin-seop (Zhejiang FC) joining one after another, leaving only 'two' players remaining until full strength is achieved.

The Hong Myung-bo squad, whose final World Cup roster was announced on the 16th, headed to the main pre-camp two days later without a domestic departure ceremony. Nine players, including those from the K League and the English Championship, were the first to arrive at the main camp. Subsequently, the remaining players traveled individually and joined based on their club schedules or recovery plans.

With the addition of Son Heung-min and three others today, the Hong Myung-bo squad now has 24 players preparing for the World Cup. Including training partners who are only accompanying for training as future assets—Kang Sang-yoon and Jo Wi-je (both Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors) and Yoon Ki-wook (FC Seoul)—the total number reaches 27.

In addition, Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich) is scheduled to join on the 27th, and Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain) will head to the Hong Myung-bo squad on the 1st of next month after completing the UEFA Champions League (UCL) final schedule, completing the 'full-strength' team.

Meanwhile, the Hong Myung-bo squad, currently undergoing altitude adaptation training in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, is scheduled for two friendly matches: against Trinidad and Tobago at 10 a.m. on the 31st, and against El Salvador at 10 a.m. on the 4th of next month.

Afterward, the team will move to the 'decisive battle' site in Mexico to play Group A matches of the North American World Cup in sequence: against Czech Republic at 11 a.m. on the 12th of next month, against Mexico at 10 a.m. on the 19th, and against South Africa at 10 a.m. on the 25th.

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*This content was translated by AI.