[Live Report] 'Son Heung-min, Lee Kang-in, Kim Min-jae' all mobilized; 'surprise starter' Lee Ki-hyuk at center back... Hong Myung-bo's 'World Cup opener' lineup against Czech Republic revealed

*This content was translated by AI.

The lineup for the decisive day has been unveiled. The South Korean national team has fielded its strongest roster with captain Son Heung-min (LAFC) leading as the lone striker against the tall Czech squad.

South Korea (ranked 25th), led by head coach Hong Myung-bo, will face the Czech Republic (ranked 40th) in the opening match of Group A of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, Central America, and the Caribbean at Estadio Akron in Guadalajara, Mexico, at 11 a.m. Korean time on the 12th.

The starting lineup was announced prior to the match. South Korea deployed a 3-4-2-1 formation.

At the forefront of the attack, 'Captain' Son Heung-min will lead the charge. Stepping onto the World Cup finals stage for the fourth time in his career, Son Heung-min will target the Czech goal with his signature sharp penetration and clinical finishing.

In the two advanced attacking midfield positions, Lee Jae-sung (Mainz) and Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain) are positioned to support Son Heung-min from behind.

On the left flank, Lee Tae-seok (Rapid Vienna) takes responsibility, while Seol Young-woo (Crvena Zvezda) covers the right flank, actively contributing to both offense and defense. In midfield, Hwang In-beom (Feyenoord) and Baek Seung-ho (Birmingham City) will coordinate their play.

The highly anticipated defense features Lee Ki-hyuk (Gangwon FC), Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich), and Lee Han-beom (Midtjylland) forming a back three. Lee Ki-hyuk, who was a surprise selection when the final World Cup roster was announced, is the Cinderella of Hong Myung-bo's squad. Anchored by left-footed center back Kim Min-jae from Munich, alongside Lee Ki-hyuk and Lee Han-beom, who has shown top-tier performance in the Danish league, they will face the Czech Republic's tall defensive line.

The final line of defense is guarded by Kim Seung-gyu (FC Tokyo), who has been named the tournament's starting goalkeeper. The veteran goalkeeper, participating in his third World Cup, will rely on his extensive experience to ensure solid saves and lead the defense from the back.

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*This content was translated by AI.