South Korea announces 26-man squad for Qatar World Cup

South Korea's squad for the World Cup.

Head coach of South Korea's national team Paulo Bento has named his squad for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 which will be held from Nov 20 to Dec 18. The South Korean squad will be led by football star Son Heung-Min despite suffering a fractured eye socket while playing for Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League earlier this month. Coach Paulo Bento has admitted, however, that it is not yet clear whether the Tottenham Hotspur star will have recovered sufficiently from a fracture near his left eye to take his place in the Taegeuk Warriors line-up. "We are in contact with him and with Tottenham medical department, but we don't have any information yet about the exact time or exact day when he can train with the team," Bento said. "We need to wait and analyze this situation day by day. The most important is that he recovers as soon as possible and feels comfortable. Then we will take the final decision," he added. Other interesting selections include Lee Kangin, the highly regarded Mallorca midfielder who has not featured for the national team since March of last year. The 26-man squad of South Korea national team includes: Goalkeepers: Kim Seunggyu (Al-Shabab), Song Bumkeun (Jeonbuk), and Jo Hyeonwoo (Ulsan). Defenders: Kim Minjae (Napoles), Kim Younggwon (Ulsan), Kwon Kyunwon (Gamba Osaka), Cho Yumin (Daejeon), Kim Moon-hwan (Jeonbuk), Yoon Jonggyu (FC Seoul), Kim Taehwan (Ulsan), Kim Jinsu (Jeonbuk), and Hong Chul (Daegu). Midfielders: Jung Wooyoung (Al Sadd), Son Junho (Shandong Taishan), Paik Seungho (Jeonbuk), Hwang Inbeom (Olympiakos), Lee Jaesung (Maguncia), Kwon Changhoon (Gimcheon Sangmu), Jeong Wooyeong (Friburgo), Lee Kangin (Mallorca), Na Sangho (FC Seoul), and Song Minkyu (Jeonbuk). Forwards: Son Heungmin (Tottenham Hotspur), Hwang Heechan (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Hwang Uijo (Olympiacos), and Cho Guesung (Jeonbuk). The Koreans will open their Group H campaign against Uruguay on Nov 24 before facing Ghana on Nov 28 and Portugal on Dec 2. On its 10th consecutive appearance at the World Cup finals, South Korea is looking to qualify for the knockout rounds for the first time since 2010.