South Korea climbs to 21st in FIFA rankings after World Cup qualifier win

The South Korean men's national football team has climbed to 21st place in the latest FIFA world rankings, marking a significant improvement ahead of their crucial 2026 World Cup qualifier against Mexico. The team, managed by Hong Myung-bo, secured this higher position following a hard-fought 2-1 comeback victory against the Czech Republic.

This recent win earned South Korea 20.92 points, boosting their total score to 1612.55. Previously ranked 25th, the team has now moved up three spots. While earlier friendly wins against Trinidad and Tobago and El Salvador did not significantly impact their ranking due to the opponents' lower FIFA standing, the World Cup qualifier against the Czech Republic carried more weight.

Meanwhile, Iran, who drew 2-2 with New Zealand, has dropped three places to 23rd in the rankings. This slip by Iran has allowed South Korea to ascend to second place among Asian Football Confederation (AFC) nations, trailing only Japan, which holds the 17th position. Australia is now third among AFC teams at 22nd place.

South Korea is set to face Mexico on June 19th in Guadalajara. Both teams are currently tied with three points in Group A, making this match pivotal for determining the group's leader. The team is currently training at their base camp in Safopán, near Guadalajara, in preparation for the upcoming fixture.