"I was a player without a jersey number": Oh Hyun-kyu, who swallowed his tears four years ago, heads to the World Cup wearing his dreamed-of '18'

*This content was translated by AI.

Four years ago, he was not even an official member and had no jersey number. But now, he will step onto the World Cup stage wearing the number 18 he once dreamed of. South Korean national team striker Oh Hyun-kyu (25, Besiktas) has written a dramatic turnaround story.

The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) announced on the 3rd (Korea time) the player rosters and jersey numbers for the 48th national teams participating in the 2026 FIFA North American World Cup. The South Korean national team, led by coach Hong Myung-bo, has also finalized its jersey numbers.

While 'ace' Son Heung-min (LAFC) received number 7 and 'monster defender' Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich) was assigned number 4, Oh Hyun-kyu's jersey number also drew attention. He is set to make his first World Cup appearance wearing the number 18 he has long desired.

For Oh Hyun-kyu, number 18 is more than just a jersey number. It represents a memory of having to swallow his regrets from four years ago and a goal to reach even higher.

Oh Hyun-kyu did not make the final roster for the 2022 Qatar World Cup. Instead, he traveled with the reserve Seon Su-ro (CEO) team. As he was not included in the official roster, he could not participate in matches and, in fact, did not even have a jersey number.

Experiencing the World Cup alongside senior national team players was undoubtedly a precious time. However, there remained a lingering sense of regret about being a reserve member. After the Qatar World Cup ended, Oh Hyun-kyu said in an interview with a broadcasting company, "I was a player with no jersey number at all. I think my feelings were quite upset," while adding, "I thought I must come back with a jersey number for the next World Cup."

Oh Hyun-kyu also expressed his wish to receive jersey number 18 in the next World Cup.

Four years later, Oh Hyun-kyu's dream has become reality. Oh Hyun-kyu has been assigned number 18. In exchange, 'Golden Boy' Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain), who frequently wore number 18 for the national team, has taken number 19.

He has steadily grown over the years. Oh Hyun-kyu, who transferred to the prestigious Scottish club Celtic FC in January 2023 during the winter transfer window, faced challenges in competing for a starting spot but overcame them and proved his value at KRC Genk (Belgium). Having received positive evaluations, Oh Hyun-kyu transferred in February to Besiktas, one of the prestigious teams representing the Turkish league.

Oh Hyun-kyu unleashed a goal storm at Besiktas. After joining the team, he played as a key attacking player, recording six goals and one assist in 13 league matches. In the first half of the season, while wearing the Genk jersey, he also recorded six goals and three assists in 20 Belgian league matches.

A definitive starting striker for coach Hong Myung-bo's team has not yet been decided. However, based on current form, Oh Hyun-kyu is likely to take the lead in the competition for a starting spot. Having received his dreamed-of number 18, he is now in a position to aim for a starting striker role at the World Cup.

Earlier, Turkish local media also reported on the news that Oh Hyun-kyu was included in the South Korean national team's World Cup roster, showing interest.

In this World Cup, South Korea was placed in Group A along with host nation Mexico, Czechia, and South Africa. With the four teams considered to have similar strength, the performance of the front-line strikers is expected to be crucial. A single goal could change not only the match result but also the overall flow of the group stage.

Four years ago in Qatar, Oh Hyun-kyu was a reserve member without a jersey number. But now, he will compete for a starting striker position at the North American World Cup wearing his dreamed-of number 18. For South Korea to advance from the group stage, Oh Hyun-kyu's decisiveness is needed more than ever.

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*This content was translated by AI.