Son Heung-min's World Cup Dream Ends as South Korea Eliminated

Son Heung-min's quest for World Cup glory has concluded prematurely, with South Korea's elimination from the 2026 North American World Cup qualifiers marking a bitter end to what many considered his final realistic chance at a major tournament. At 38 years old in four years, the 2026 tournament was widely seen as the captain's last opportunity to shine on the world's biggest stage.

However, the campaign proved to be a personal and collective disappointment. Son, who had previously stated he never explicitly called it his "last" World Cup, struggled to make an impact. Across three group stage matches, he managed only one shot on target out of six attempts and failed to register any goals or assists. This performance falls short of his previous World Cup records, where he was jointly ranked with other Korean legends for goals and assists.

Son had prepared diligently for this tournament, even moving to Major League Soccer's LAFC to maintain peak condition and adapt to the local environment. This strategic shift, however, did not translate into on-field success. Unlike his previous three World Cup appearances, Son did not complete a full 90 minutes in any match during this campaign. In the crucial third group stage match against South Africa, he was notably benched for the first time.

Despite his stellar career for the national team, holding records for most national team appearances and second-most goals, the World Cup has remained an elusive stage for Son. South Korea's best performance was reaching the Round of 16 in 2022, with all other appearances ending in the group stage. Son is expected to return to his club, LAFC, to continue his MLS season, where he has yet to score this season, recording nine assists in 14 games.

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I have never said myself that it is my last.