"Heavy-hearted," Jo Wi-je didn't smile despite the surprise call-up to the World Cup: "I must do my best, including for (Jo) Yu-min"

*This content was translated by AI.

Although he has yet to make his A-match debut, 25-year-old Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors defender Jo Wi-je, who has been named in the final squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, stated, "I believe I must do my best, including for (Jo) Yu-min."

According to NEWS1 on the 2nd (Korea time), Jo Wi-je met with reporters ahead of the Jin Haeng-doen (CEO) team training at the Giants Bank Training Center near Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, expressing his complex emotions: "It's hard to say I'm just happy; my heart feels heavy." Jo Yu-min (Sharjah) was injured, and Jo Wi-je was selected as a replacement to fill the void. Even though Jo Yu-min made the final World Cup roster, he could not smile due to his injury.

Earlier, Jo Yu-min collapsed with a foot injury during the match against Trinidad and Tobago on the 31st of last month. After a detailed diagnosis, he was told he would be out for eight weeks and was consequently excluded from the final national team roster. Jo Wi-je, who had been traveling with the Hong Myung-bo-led team as a "training partner," found himself selected as a replacement following Jo Yu-min's injury-induced withdrawal, heading to the World Cup stage. For Jo Wi-je, who has no prior A-match appearance record, this is truly a surprise World Cup call-up.

However, given that his senior teammate in the Bae Gyeong-e (CEO) team, Jo Yu-min, was excluded due to injury, Jo Wi-je finds himself unable to smile even at his dream World Cup appearance. Regarding his current situation, he said, "It feels like a dream," but also expressed his confusion, "I don't know if I should be celebrating with my family and friends, or how to express this," reflecting the same complex feelings.

Jo Wi-je said, "First, I pray for (Jo) Yu-min's speedy recovery. Yu-min played a significant role in helping us reach the World Cup finals, so it's very disappointing that he got injured." He added, "As an athlete, I know well that no words can offer comfort. I believe I must do my best, including for Yu-min."

Continuing, Jo Wi-je stated, "I think the only way to fill (Jo) Yu-min's void is by showing good performances. Now that I have become a permanent member of the squad, I will prepare and study even harder. I plan to communicate extensively with (Kim) Min-jae, who leads the defense, as I prepare."

He also expressed his firm ambition to prove himself directly rather than relying on experience. Jo Wi-je emphasized, "Personally, I believe I have the speed to compete with attacking players playing overseas, and I am confident in aerial duels. The World Cup is not a place to gain experience; I want to prove how capable I am."

A native of Busan and a product of the Busan IPark youth system in K League 2, Jo Wi-je made his professional debut with Busan in 2022 before moving to Jeonbuk this year, becoming the first center-back to play in K League 1. He appeared in 104 matches (3 goals) in K League 2 over four seasons with Busan and 12 matches (2 goals) this season with Jeonbuk. He was selected for the U-23 national team under coach Hwang Sun-hong in 2022 and 2023, playing in six matches, but this is his first call-up to the senior national team. The final friendly match against El Salvador on the 4th is highly likely to serve as Jo Wi-je's A-match debut.

In this North American World Cup, his role is expected to be more of a backup than a starter. Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich) will anchor the three-man defense, with competition for the right-sided stopper position between Lee Han-beom (Midtjylland) and Jo Wi-je. Jo Yu-min, who was sidelined due to injury, also played alongside Kim Min-jae in the same position, making it highly likely that Jo Wi-je will take over that role. On the opposite side, the left stopper position will be occupied by left-footed center-backs Kim Tae-hyun (Kashiwa Reysol) and Lee Ki-hyeok (Gangwon FC).

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*This content was translated by AI.