Lee Kang-in faces 'disciplinary suspension' concerns in World Cup, warning trouble looms in final group stage match

*This content was translated by AI.

Lee Kang-in (25, Paris Saint-Germain), who played the full 90 minutes in two consecutive matches in the 2026 FIFA North, Central America and Caribbean World Cup group stage, is preparing for the final match against South Africa with the burden of potential 'warning trouble.'

On the 19th (Korea time), Lee Kang-in started in the A Group second match against Mexico at the Guadalajara Stadium in Zapopan, Mexico, but received his first caution of the tournament just four minutes into the first half. The referee ruled that he had stepped on the foot of Luis Romero (Chivas) during a midfield challenge for the ball.

Receiving a caution early in the match can lead to the risk of suspension due to accumulation of two cautions, inevitably affecting a player's performance. However, Lee Kang-in continued to cover the pitch relentlessly for the remainder of the game, playing a central role in South Korea's offense and engaging in physical battles and mental duels with opposing players.

Ultimately, Lee Kang-in played the full 90 minutes again today. With three key passes and an 88% pass success rate, his cross success rate was particularly impressive at 100% (3 successful crosses), and his dribble success rate was 80% (4 successful dribbles). He won 6 out of 9 ground ball duels.

Although South Korea, led by coach Hong Myung-bo, lost 0-1 to Mexico, Lee Kang-in was the only South Korean player to receive a rating in the 7th-point range (7.2 points) on the football statistics platform FotMob. Along with Son Heung-min (LAFC) and Lee Jae-sung (Mainz), who started in the attacking line for two consecutive matches, Lee Kang-in was the only one to play the full 90 minutes in both games, reaffirming his undisputed status as the team's ace.

The issue is that the caution received just four minutes into the first half today will carry over to the final A Group match against South Africa, scheduled for 10 a.m. on the 26th at the Monterrey Stadium in Mexico. Complicating matters, South Korea must at least draw against South Africa to advance to the Round of 32, making it difficult to implement bold rotation. Considering his importance to the team, Lee Kang-in's performance in the South Africa match is absolutely essential.

However, if Lee Kang-in receives another caution in the South Africa match, he will be unable to play in the first match of the Round of 32, even if South Korea advances. The regulations state that a player receiving two cautions cannot participate in the next match. Caution records are cleared only twice during the tournament: after the conclusion of the group stage and after the conclusion of the quarterfinals. However, this clearance applies only if the player has received just one caution. Receiving the tournament's second caution in the final group stage match means the disciplinary action will apply to the next match.

The problem is that yellow cards during a match are often unavoidable despite efforts to avoid them, depending on the referee's tendencies and the flow of the game. In this context, if Lee Kang-in, a key player for the team, receives his second caution of the tournament and is unable to play in the next match, it could deal a fatal blow to Hong Myung-bo's squad. The ideal scenario is to adjust Lee Kang-in's playing time in the South Africa match to minimize the possibility of a disciplinary suspension. Not only Lee Kang-in, but also Lee Ki-hyuk (Gangwon FC) and Baek Seung-ho (Birmingham City), who started in consecutive matches as center-back and midfielder respectively, must also prepare for the final group stage match under warning trouble conditions.

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*This content was translated by AI.