Hong Myung-bo names 28-man squad ahead of key World Cup qualifiers

South Korea's head coach, Hong Myung-bo, has summoned 28 players for the upcoming home World Cup qualifying matches against Oman and Jordan later this month. The Taeguk Warriors aim to secure their place in the 11th consecutive edition of the global tournament.

Should South Korea achieve victories against Oman in Goyang on March 20 and Jordan in Suwon five days thereafter, they could potentially secure one of the two automatic berths to the 2026 finals from Group B with two qualifiers remaining.

"The ideal scenario is to quickly secure qualification for the World Cup through these two home matches and then play friendly matches against European powerhouses," Hong told a news conference on Monday.

"Things won't always go the way we want them to, of course, but we will do our best to achieve that goal. Even if that doesn't work out, we'll make sure that the players feel comfortable and are not under too much pressure."

Captain Son Heung-min has been included in the expanded squad alongside key players such as Bayern Munich's center-back Kim Min-jae and Paris Saint-Germain's winger Lee Kang-in.

Hong stated that he opted for a larger squad than typical to enhance competition for positions and due to the fact that six of his players will face suspension if they receive a yellow card in the match against Oman.

Additionally, the coach has brought back winger Yang Hyun-jun for the first time since the Asian Cup early last year, recognizing his impressive performances as a substitute for Celtic, the leaders of the Scottish Premier League.

"He has not been playing big minutes ... but he has been making a huge impact in a small amount of time," Hong told reporters.

South Korea is currently at the top of Group B, accumulating 14 points, which places them three points ahead of Iraq. Jordan holds the third position with nine points, while Oman is in fourth place, trailing by an additional three points.

The two leading teams from each group will advance directly to the finals in North America, whereas the teams finishing in third and fourth place will enter a fourth round of Asian qualifying.