'Disciplinary Crisis' Lee Kang-in, Baek Seung-ho, and Lee Ki-hyeok All Start Against South Africa... Warning Could Bar Them from Round of 32

*This content was translated by AI.

Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain), Baek Seung-ho (Birmingham City), and Lee Ki-hyeok (Gangwon FC), all currently facing a so-called "warning trouble," are set to start in the match against South Africa. With qualification for the Round of 32 not yet secured, the calculation is to prioritize full effort over disciplinary concerns. However, any player among them who receives a warning in the South Africa match will be ineligible to play in the Round of 32 due to disciplinary sanctions, even if South Korea advances.

The South Korean national football team, led by head coach Hong Myung-bo, will face South Africa in the third group stage match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the Americas, Group A, at Monterrey Stadium on the 25th at 10 a.m. (Korea time). South Korea, currently holding 3 points (1 win, 1 loss), will advance to the Round of 32 in second place in the group with at least a draw against South Africa (1 point).

Although South Korea is in a highly advantageous position for advancing to the Round of 32 and holds a significant power advantage over South Africa, head coach Hong Myung-bo has placed greater emphasis on the starting lineup. The notable changes include starting Oh Hyeon-gyu (Besiktas) and Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton) to replace Son Heung-min (LAFC) and Lee Jae-sung (Mainz), who remained silent in the previous two consecutive matches. Compared to the Mexico match, three positions saw changes, including the return of Lee Tae-seok (Austria Vienna) at the left wingback position.

In this process, Lee Kang-in, Baek Seung-ho, and Lee Ki-hyeok, who each received a warning in the earlier group stage matches, were all included in the starting lineup. Especially Lee Kang-in, a key figure in Hong Myung-bo's tactics and showing peak performance, became the only player among forwards and midfielders to start and play the full 90 minutes in both previous matches, and he is once again named in the starting lineup for the South Africa match. Baek Seung-ho and Lee Ki-hyeok also started all group stage matches. This signifies that they are core resources for Hong Myung-bo's team in this World Cup.

However, if any of them receive a warning in the South Africa match, they will be unable to play in the Round of 32 due to accumulated disciplinary sanctions, even if Hong Myung-bo's team advances to the Round of 32. In the worst-case scenario, the team might have to compete in the Round of 32 without Lee Kang-in, the core of the attack. Conversely, if they avoid receiving a warning in this South Africa match, their warning records from the group stage will effectively be nullified. Regardless of warnings received during the group stage, players must accumulate two warnings starting from the Round of 32 to be barred from the next match.

The ideal scenario is to secure an advantageous position for advancing to the Round of 32 as quickly as possible and eliminate the possibility of disciplinary action by substituting those facing warning trouble early. On the right flank where Lee Kang-in is positioned, Lee Dong-kyung (Ulsan HD) and Bae Jun-ho (Stoke City) are on standby. In the midfield replacing Baek Seung-ho, Kim Jin-kyu (Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors) or Park Jin-seop (Zhejiang FC) could play. At the left stopper position where Lee Ki-hyeok plays, Kim Tae-hyun (Kashima Antlers) could step in. All players other than Kim Jin-kyu and Park Jin-seop have no participation record in this tournament.

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*This content was translated by AI.