From Feverish to Hero: Oh Hyeon-gyu's World Cup Comeback

Oh Hyeon-gyu, wearing the No. 18 jersey, experienced a dramatic turnaround on the day of South Korea's 2026 World Cup debut against the Czech Republic. Just hours before the match, he was suffering from severe diarrhea and dehydration, with a fever reaching 38 degrees Celsius. The illness left him so weak he could barely leave his bed, casting doubt on his ability to play in his first World Cup.

Despite the severe setback, Oh's journey from near incapacitation to becoming a match-winner was remarkable. He had joined the national team carrying a hamstring injury from his club, Beşiktaş, and had been diligently working to regain full fitness. The sudden illness threatened to derail his World Cup dream before it truly began. However, the narrative took a triumphant turn when Oh scored the decisive winning goal in the 80th minute, securing a 2-1 comeback victory for South Korea.

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We adequately administered fever reducers and replenished fluids, which helped lower his temperature and likely contributed to his good performance.

The rapid recovery was attributed to the dedicated efforts of the national team's medical staff. Head team physician Song Joon-seop stated that while specific treatments are confidential, they were well-prepared for altitude-related issues. "We adequately administered fever reducers and replenished fluids, which helped lower his temperature and likely contributed to his good performance," Song explained. Team medical staff member Baek Jeong-guk added that Oh was struggling to even get out of bed and use the restroom that morning, expressing doubts about playing. "We applied our prepared treatment, and fortunately, it worked. He started recovering after lunch and was back to normal by the time he arrived at the stadium."

Overwhelmed by the experience, Oh expressed his gratitude to the entire staff and medical team. "All the staff and medical team members took such great care of me that I was able to play and score," he said in the mixed zone after the match. His game-winning goal was, in a sense, a shared victory, made possible by the team's meticulous preparation and care.

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All the staff and medical team members took such great care of me that I was able to play and score.