"Couldn't witness the birth of my child because of the World Cup," Kim Seung-gyu confesses his regret → Unyielding determination burns bright "I must do it for my wife and daughter" [：]

*This content was translated by AI.

For veteran goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu (36, FC Tokyo), who has experienced every kind of hardship, this World Cup is more meaningful than ever. Having devoted himself to preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, Central America, and the Caribbean, he is determined to show his fighting spirit in this tournament to make up for his regret as a father who could not be present at the birth of his first daughter, born just two years after his marriage.

The South Korean national football team held its official training session on the morning of the 7th (local time) at Chivas Verde Valle, the base camp training ground in Guadalajara, Mexico.

For Kim Seung-gyu, the World Cup is a tournament held during the most significant joyous occasion of his life. His wife, model Kim Jin-kyung, announced on the 4th, just three days prior, via her personal social networking service (SNS), that she had given birth to a daughter.

However, due to the team schedule and preparations for the World Cup finals, he was unable to be by his newborn daughter's side at the moment of her birth. While unable to stay by his wife's side, he has moved from the pre-camp in Salt Lake City, USA, to currently focus on World Cup preparations in Guadalajara, Mexico.

When asked by reporters about his daughter's appearance, Kim Seung-gyu smiled, expressing both gratitude and regret simultaneously. He said, "Deep down, I fervently hoped she wouldn't look like me at all," and added, "Fortunately, it seems she doesn't look exactly like me. I think it's truly fortunate that her face is a perfect, beautiful blend of half my features and half my wife's," showing a father's smile.

At the same time, Kim Seung-gyu stated, "I could not be by my daughter's side at the moment of her birth. I feel deeply sorry to my wife and daughter," and pledged, "I will definitely achieve a good result and return, so that this World Cup can become the best gift for our daughter and wife."

There is good reason for this. Kim Seung-gyu has burned with determination for this tournament, which could be his last World Cup. Just two years ago, during the 2024 Asian Cup, Kim Seung-gyu suffered a cruciate ligament injury and was forced to withdraw midway, facing the biggest crisis of his career.

Kim Seung-gyu, who had even worried about his playing career, said, "I had a major injury before the World Cup. Just a year ago, I couldn't even imagine making it to the World Cup. It was a period when I deeply pondered, 'Will I be able to play football again?'" He continued, "Since this is a gift-like opportunity that came after enduring difficult times, I want to conclude this tournament with a better result than my previous three World Cups. I approach each one with the resolve that this is truly my last World Cup in my life," revealing his earnest desire.

Kim Seung-gyu made his World Cup debut in the third group stage match against Belgium at the 2014 Brazil World Cup and is now approaching his fourth World Cup. Regarding the fierce competition for the starting position with Cho Hyun-woo (Ulsan HD) and Song Beom-geun (Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors), whom he has competed against for a long time, he said, "Hyun-woo and Beom-geun are both in excellent condition ahead of the World Cup. Since the last training camp, we have been in a continuous cycle of good competition, which has allowed us to develop each other. Now, all three of us are in the best physical condition, so no matter who among us plays, we can all contribute significantly to the team," showing strong confidence.

He has also accounted for the high-altitude play of their first-round opponent, Czechia, and the high-altitude climate variable in Guadalajara. Kim Seung-gyu noted, "Due to the high-altitude characteristic, shooting practice is clearly different. Even shots I thought I would block seem to get sucked into the goal," and added, "I will focus intensely in every training session to quickly develop a sense of this special ball trajectory and speed."

Regarding Czechia, whose average height reaches 187cm, he said, "Czechia definitely attempts many crosses from both sides and has many tall players in the front. Against such a team, a goalkeeper cannot simply defend the goal line." He further explained, "My role is to either boldly come out of the box to handle aerial balls decisively or actively choose positions to assist defenders in duels, fighting actively from behind."

He has not forgotten his gratitude toward captain Son Heung-min (LAFC), with whom he has shared the glories and hardships of the national team for a long time. Earlier, when Son Heung-min congratulated Kim Seung-gyu on his fourth World Cup appearance during a broadcast interview, Kim responded with a smile, saying, "No one knows if this World Cup will be Son Heung-min's last," and added, "Heung-min is a grateful teammate who has played in the World Cup with me for a long time and has always been a tremendous source of strength for me. As captain, he shoulders a heavier sense of responsibility and burden than anyone else when stepping onto the World Cup stage. I will work hard to stand firmly behind him, alleviate some of Heung-min's burden, and become a source of strength. I want to make this tournament the most memorable and best World Cup of my football career."

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.