Three 'new' call-ups for the KNT

Hong Myung-bo will announce the latest Korea squad for the AFC World Cup Qualifiers on Monday the 10th but will we see any surprises?

Photo by Fauzan Saari on Unsplash

he domestic K League is well underway, now entering its fourth round. While recent MLS recruits have been settling in, South Korea's Europe-based players have experienced mixed fortunes on the pitch, with injury concerns for both Hwang In-beom and Hwang Hee-chan. Beyond injuries, form is a crucial factor as national team selections approach. With Hong Myung-bo not even a year into his second—and controversial—stint as head coach, it's fair to say the 56-year-old is still very much in the experimentation phase for the Korean National Team.

With all that mind it’s quite possible we see some ‘new’ faces tomorrow, 10th of March, in Korea’s team for the penultimate squad list of the Third Round of the AFC World Cup Qualifying, which should be when Korea seal their place at the 2026 World Cup.

Kim Ju-sung

Position: CB

Foot: Left

Club: FC Seoul

Age: 24

FC Seoul Instagram showing Kim Ju-sung directing play

FC Seoul’s left-sided centre-back has developed into one of the league’s best defenders. Kim is an aggressive ball-winner with good recovery speed to get back into position. His ability to defend wide areas has improved significantly compared to a few seasons ago when it was an obvious weakness. Kim Ju-sung has already surpassed 100 K League 1 appearances, a milestone that has been instrumental in his development into one of the league’s top defenders.

Averaging three interceptions per game—the third-highest among centre-backs this season—Kim has formed an excellent partnership with Jordan’s Yazan Al-Arab, who will face South Korea in Suwon on Matchday 8. The duo has helped FC Seoul keep two clean sheets in the league so far, and Kim is certainly deserving of a call-up. Like Yang, he was part of South Korea’s 2024 Asian Cup squad but did not play—and, oddly, was not even named on the bench. Under Hong Myung-bo, Kim has received call-ups but, as was the case under Klinsmann, has yet to feature. He does have two international caps, both earned as a substitute in 2022.

Beyond his defensive contributions, Kim plays a crucial role in FC Seoul’s buildup, completing the most passes of any player this season with a 90% success rate. His left-footedness could be a valuable asset alongside Bayern Munich’s Kim Min-jae. With right-footed Cho Yu-min currently occupying that position, introducing Kim could improve the team's balance in possession—especially as Hong Myung-bo has yet to fully establish a clear tactical identity.