Korea Coach Says Team Won't Settle for Draw in Final Group World Cup Match
Hong Myung-bo said South Korea will play for a win because a draw could leave its World Cup fate dependent on other results.
- On Wednesday, South Korea faces South Africa in a decisive 2026 FIFA World Cup Group A match at Estadio Monterrey in Guadalupe, Mexico, with knockout advancement on the line.
- South Korea coach Hong Myung-bo urged his players to pursue victory rather than settle for a draw, warning, 'The moment we start thinking a draw will be good enough, we will be in trouble.'
- With key players suspended, South Africa must compete without midfield kingpin Teboho Mokoena and veteran playmaker Themba Zwane, both unavailable following disciplinary bans in recent matches.
- A win or draw guarantees South Korea second place in Group A, while a loss could still see them advance as one of the eight best third-place teams if Czechia falls to Mexico.
- Hong noted his squad remains comfortable with Guadalupe's scorching climate, while expecting a partisan crowd at Estadio Monterrey to create an atmosphere resembling a home game for the Korean team.
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Korea Sports Leisure Co., Ltd. (CEO Kim Dae-wook), the entrusted operator of Sports Toto, a sports promotion lottery ticket issued by the Seoul Olympic Memorial Korea Sports Promotion Foundation, has decided to temporarily change the sales time for sports promotion lottery tickets only on the day of the South Korean national team's third match of Group A in the 2026 CONCACAF World Cup between Korea (away) and South Africa (home).
On the 24th (Korean time), the BBC expressed concern that the fairness of football could be compromised in the third group stage matches of the 2026 CONCACAF World Cup due to system changes. In this tournament, Mexico (Group A), which secured two consecutive wins against South Africa and South Korea, along with the United States (Group D), Germany (Group E), Argentina…
Group A of the 2026 World Cup will most likely see South Korea secure the second direct qualification spot for the knockout round.
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Hong Myung-bo’s squad has had to deal with issues off the pitch but a point against South Africa is enough to progress The tacos that Son Heung-min ate were reportedly of the Al Pastor and Arrachera variety. The former Tottenham forward was mobbed after taking an Uber from South Korea’s training camp, perhaps the most-talked about base at this World Cup tournament, to downtown Guadalajara. The crowds were another signal, if any were needed, of t…
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