Key facts
- Son Heung-min will make his fourth career FIFA World Cup appearance.
- This appearance ties the record for most World Cup appearances by a South Korean player.
- Son is South Korea's most capped male player with 143 appearances.
- He has scored 54 international goals, ranking second all-time.
- Son is tied for the most World Cup goals by a South Korean player with three.
South Korean captain Son Heung-min is set to make his fourth career FIFA World Cup appearance in the team's opening Group A match against Czechia. Son was included in the starting lineup for the match held at Estadio Guadalajara in Zapopan, Mexico.
With this appearance, Son, alongside goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu, will tie three former South Korean players – Hong Myung-bo, Hwang Sun-hong, and Lee Woon-jae – for the most World Cup appearances by a South Korean player, with four each. Hong Myung-bo is the current national team head coach.
Son holds the record for the most capped South Korean male player with 143 appearances. He also ranks second in the country's all-time international goalscoring list with 54 goals, trailing only Cha Bum-kun. Additionally, Son is tied with former players Ahn Jung-hwan and Park Ji-sung for the most World Cup goals by a South Korean player, with three.
The starting eleven for South Korea includes defenders Kim Min-jae, Lee Han-beom, and Lee Gi-hyuk, with Lee Tae-seok and Seol Young-woo as wingbacks. The midfield consists of Hwang In-beom, Paik Seung-ho, Lee Jae-sung, and Lee Kang-in. Czechia's attack is expected to be led by Bayer Leverkusen striker Patrik Schick.