'Lee Kang-in has finally arrived.' Hong Myung-bo's squad completes its full 26-player roster just two weeks after departing for the U.S.

*This content was translated by AI.

Lee Kang-in (25, Paris Saint-Germain) has finally joined Hong Myung-bo's squad. The South Korean national football team can now prepare for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America as a complete 26-player roster.

According to NEWS1 and others on the 2nd (Korea time), Lee Kang-in traveled to Salt Lake City, USA, for Hong Myung-bo's pre-camp after completing Paris Saint-Germain's (PSG) schedule for the 2025-2026 UEFA Champions League (UCL) final. He then joined the national team for training.

With Lee Kang-in's arrival, Hong Myung-bo's squad can now begin full-scale World Cup preparations with a complete 26-player roster. This marks the completion of the 26th-player squad just two weeks after training began following the pre-camp arrival on the 18th of last month.

Initially, the pre-departure squad for Hong Myung-bo's team, consisting of some European-based players who had finished their seasons early and returned home for rest, as well as K-League players, departed for the U.S. in mid-last month. They headed quickly to the U.S. pre-camp to adapt rapidly to the high altitude of Mexico, without holding a World Cup departure ceremony. Subsequently, other players joined Hong Myung-bo's squad in the U.S. based on their club schedules or personal commitments.

Lee Kang-in was the last player to join due to his club schedule. PSG, Lee Kang-in's club, finished its season only after playing the 2025-2026 UCL final held at Puskás Aréna in Budapest, Hungary, on the 31st of last month. Although Lee Kang-in did not play in that match, his team secured the championship via a penalty shootout, adding a second consecutive UCL title to his career before heading to the national team.

With Lee Kang-in's arrival, Hong Myung-bo's squad, now complete, is expected to begin full-scale World Cup preparations. The team will play its final pre-World Cup friendly against El Salvador, ranked 100th in the FIFA rankings, at 10 a.m. on the 4th at BYU South Field in Utah, USA. Afterward, they will move to Mexico, the final destination, for final preparations before the World Cup. This will be the time to make final checks on tactics and other aspects.

Following this, Hong Myung-bo's team will face Czech Republic at 11 a.m. on the 12th, Mexico at 10 a.m. on the 19th, and South Africa at 10 a.m. on the 25th in Group A matches of the World Cup final tournament. The top two teams from each group, along with the eight best third-placed teams among the 12th groups, will advance to the Round of 32 tournament.

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

- Defenders: Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich), Lee Han-beom (Midtjylland), Kim Tae-hyun (Kashima Antlers), Seol Young-woo (Crvena Zvezda), Lee Tae-seok (Austria Wien), Kim Moon-hwan (Daejeon Hana Citizen), Lee Ki-hyeok (Gangwon FC), Jens Castrof (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Park Jin-seop (Zhejiang FC), Jo Wi-je (Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors)

- Midfielders: 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)

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

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*This content was translated by AI.