Son Heung-min named among stars to watch for 2026 World Cup

South Korean football captain Son Heung-min has been recognized as one of the 26 "stars to watch" for the upcoming 2026 North, Central American and Caribbean Football Confederation (CONCACAF) World Cup by Yahoo Sports. The list, released on June 10 (KST), features global footballing icons such as Lionel Messi of Argentina, Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal, Jude Bellingham of England, Erling Haaland of Norway, Kylian Mbappé of France, and Lamine Yamal of Spain.

Son stands as the sole representative from Asia on this prestigious list. Yahoo Sports emphasized Son's pivotal role in determining South Korea's success in advancing past the group stage. The publication noted his past achievements and stated, "If Son Heung-min regains his scoring touch, South Korea will have a good chance of advancing from the group stage."

This season, Son has contributed 9 assists in 14 league matches for his club, LAFC, though he has yet to score a goal. South Korea has been drawn into Group A for the World Cup, where they will face Czech Republic, Mexico, and South Africa. Notably, Raúl Jiménez of Mexico, another player on Yahoo Sports' list, is also in Group A. The inclusion of Son on this global list underscores his status as a key player to watch in the tournament.

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If Son Heung-min regains his scoring touch, South Korea will have a good chance of advancing from the group stage.