[Official] 'Wearing No. 13 in a friendly match,' Son Heung-min to don the symbolic No. 7 at the World Cup... 'Lee Kang-in gets No. 19' — Jersey numbers finalized

*This content was translated by AI.

The jersey numbers for the South Korean national football team, led by coach Hong Myung-bo, for the 2026 FIFA North American World Cup have been finalized.

On the 3rd (Korean time), FIFA released the squad lists and jersey numbers for the 48th national teams participating in the North American World Cup. In addition to South Korea, which is in Group A, Mexico, Czechia, and South Africa also announced their final jersey numbers.

In South Korea, 'ace' and 'captain' Son Heung-min (LAFC) will take the field at the World Cup wearing his symbolic jersey number 7.

Previously, Son Heung-min wore jersey number 13 in the first friendly match played during the high-altitude camp. He started as a forward against Trinidad and Tobago, ranked 102nd in the FIFA rankings. This was a strategic choice intended to create even slight confusion in the tactical analysis of the group-stage opponents by Son Heung-min. In that match, Son Heung-min scored multiple goals, leading South Korea to a decisive 5-0 victory.

However, for his fourth World Cup final tournament, he will once again wear number 7. Son Heung-min wore number 7 at the 2018 Russia World Cup and the 2022 Qatar World Cup. He has worn number 7 not only at his former club Tottenham (England) but also at his current club LAFC (United States).

At this World Cup, Son Heung-min aims to lead South Korea through the group stage while also challenging for sole possession of the record for most goals scored by a South Korean player in World Cup history. Currently, Son Heung-min has scored three goals in World Cup history. He is currently tied for first place with 'legend' Park Ji-sung and Ahn Jung-hwan for the most World Cup goals by a South Korean player.

Along with this, Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich), who plays in Europe's top leagues, received jersey number 4, and Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain) received number 19. While Lee Kang-in has primarily worn number 18 for the national team, at the World Cup, Oh Hyeon-gyu (Besiktas), who has emerged as a strong starting forward option, will wear number 18.

This is also a meaningful jersey number for Oh Hyeon-gyu. He did not make the final 26-man squad for the 2022 Qatar World Cup but traveled with the reserve Seon Su-ro (CEO) team. At that time, Oh Hyeon-gyu expressed his desire to be included in the official squad for the next World Cup and wear number 18. Ultimately, he has now realized that dream at the North American World Cup.

Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Hwang Hee-chan of the English Premier League (EPL) will wear number 11. Veteran midfielder Lee Jae-sung (Mainz) received jersey number 10. Jens Castrof (Borussia Mönchengladbach), the first mixed-race player in the South Korean men's A national team, will wear number 23.

K League players also received jersey numbers. Lee Ki-hyuk (Gangwon FC) will wear number 3. Players from Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, Song Beom-geun, Jo Wi-je, and Kim Jin-gyu received numbers 12, 14, and 24, respectively. Cho Hyun-woo of Ulsan HD will wear number 21, and Lee Dong-gyeong will wear number 26.

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*This content was translated by AI.