Coach Hong's bold call: Son Heung-min benched for South Africa qualifier

In a bold move, South Korean national football team coach Hong Myung-bo has opted to bench captain Son Heung-min for the crucial Group A match against South Africa in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. This decision represents a significant departure from previous strategies, as Son has consistently led the line as the main striker.

The starting lineup will see Oh Hyun-gyu spearhead the attack, making his first start of the tournament. Oh has previously come on as a substitute for Son in the second half of the first two matches. Son is expected to be deployed later in the game, likely when the South African defense begins to tire.

Further changes in the attacking third include Hwang Hee-chan starting on the left wing, replacing Lee Jae-sung. Hwang, who also served as a second-half substitute in earlier games, has been given a starting nod. Lee Kang-in retains his position on the right wing, completing an attacking trio of Hwang, Oh, and Lee tasked with scoring the opening goal against South Africa.

The midfield and defensive formations remain unchanged from the previous matches. Hwang In-beom and Baek Seung-ho will continue to control the center of the park, while the back three will consist of Lee Ki-hyuk, Kim Min-jae, and Lee Han-beom. The wing-back positions see a slight adjustment, with Lee Tae-seok starting on the left and Seol Young-woo shifting to the right, having previously played on the left in the first match.

Kim Seung-gyu will be in goal. South Korea needs just a draw in this match to secure a second-place finish in Group A and advance to the next stage of the tournament. The team has maintained its 3-4-2-1 formation throughout the competition.