Could this surprising selection be just the beginning? Lee Ki-hyeok aims for a leap to starting spot in the World Cup

*This content was translated by AI.

Ahead of the 2026 FIFA North America World Cup, Lee Ki-hyeok (26, Gangwon FC), who was unexpectedly named to Hong Myung-bo's squad, is now aiming to leap directly into a starting role in the World Cup.

Following the match against Trinidad and Tobago on the 31st of last month at BYU Southfield in Utah, USA, Lee Ki-hyeok started both of the two pre-World Cup evaluation matches held at the same venue on the 5th against El Salvador.

Of course, since Lee Ki-hyeok had not yet played in an actual match since the formation of Hong Myung-bo's team, it was necessary to fully assess his performance in real-game conditions. This "consecutive appearance" also coincided with the fact that Kim Taehyun (Kashiwa Reysol), another left-footed center-back, was not in good condition.

However, during this process, Lee Ki-hyeok's formidable competitiveness drew the attention of fans. Even considering that these were matches against lower-ranked teams within the FIFA ranking top 100, he showcased sharp passing and build-up abilities from the backline despite having limited A-match experience.

Playing as the left stopper in a three-back formation in both matches, Lee Ki-hyeok frequently delivered sharp passes toward the left wing-back or the attacking line. Leveraging his passing ability, already proven in the K-League as a former midfielder, he opened up multiple pathways for Hong Myung-bo's team's offense. His accurate long passes directed toward the front and flanks, as well as his impressive low-cutting sharp through passes, were particularly noteworthy.

In the match against Trinidad and Tobago, Lee Ki-hyeok recorded a passing success rate of 95% and a long-pass success rate of 70% (7 successful out of 10 attempts). In the El Salvador match, his passing success rate was 92%, and his long-pass success rate was 71% (5 successful out of 7 attempts). The number of passes directed into the final third reached 16 in the Trinidad and Tobago match and 14 in the El Salvador match. These were indicators that clearly demonstrated his strengths in build-up play, despite being a defender.

Of course, nothing was perfect. Due to a lack of synchronization, there were several moments of regret on the defensive side. Although both matches ended scoreless, particularly in the El Salvador match, he was shaken several times by the opponent's fast counter-attacks on the flanks, leading to crisis situations. However, focusing solely on a few shortcomings in the defensive area would overlook his other, very clear strengths.

Considering that Coach Hong Myung-bo places Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich) at the center of a three-back formation and positions left-footed and right-footed center-backs on the left and right sides respectively, Lee Ki-hyeok is expected to compete with Kim Taehyun for the left stopper role in this World Cup. However, if Kim Taehyun's condition does not recover quickly, Lee Ki-hyeok could receive a significant number of opportunities.

If he demonstrates his competitiveness by competing on the World Cup stage, Lee Ki-hyeok will write another twist in his story, moving beyond a surprising selection to the final World Cup roster to a leap into a starting role. Furthermore, if Lee Ki-hyeok's performance helps lead Hong Myung-bo's team to a smooth World Cup campaign, it could be the perfect ending for the Lee Gi-hyeok-gwa (CEO) team.

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*This content was translated by AI.