With just 30 days until the world’s most-watched football tournament kicks off, experts and journalists are split on what to expect from Hong Myung-bo’s South Korean squad. The 2026 FIFA World Cup, hosted across North and Central America, will feature a record 48 teams divided into 12 groups. The top two from each group, along with the eight best third-placed teams, advance to the round of 32. South Korea, placed in Group A, aims to reach the quarterfinals.

The Taeguk Warriors open their group stage against the Czech Republic on June 12 at 11 a.m. local time, followed by matches against hosts Mexico on June 19 at 10 a.m. and South Africa on June 25 at 10 a.m. The first two games will be held at Estadio Akron in Guadalajara, with the final group match at Estadio Monterrey in Guadalupe.

Commentators Lee Sang-yoon and Kim Dae-gil both predict South Korea will reach the round of 16. Lee noted, “We have plenty of talent, but injuries are still a concern. We might not see the full-strength lineup.” Kim added, “The key is avoiding injuries. Based on squad strength, I expect wins against the Czech Republic and South Africa. If we get through the group, our energy levels will determine how far we go.”

However, analyst Jung Woo-won offered a more pessimistic view. “The Czech Republic excels in physical play and aerial duels. I wonder if South Korea has a sufficient tactical response. Our team has experienced players, but the Czechs, coming through the European playoffs, will have stronger momentum. I see us advancing as one of the best third-placed teams, but the round of 16 depends heavily on the draw.”

Six sports reporters from our publication also weighed in with varied forecasts, though most predicted either one win or no wins in the group stage.

Reporters Kim Jin-su and Choi Seo-jin respectively predicted 1 win and 2 losses, and 1 win, 1 draw, and 1 loss. Both agreed that South Korea would lose to Mexico. Kim warned, “The match against South Africa won’t be easy either. Despite their lower ranking (60th), their African speed and counterattacking ability could trouble Hong’s side.” Choi countered, “In big tournaments, momentum matters. The Czech Republic stunned Denmark in the European playoff final, so their confidence will be high. I’m leaning toward a draw.”

casino in nigeria

Some forecasts were even darker. Reporter Kwon Young-joon predicted three straight losses. He explained, “A realistic target would be 1 win, 1 draw, 1 loss to advance, but questions remain about our high-altitude preparation and defensive organization. Once again, we may have to rely on players’ fighting spirit.” Reporter Park Sang-hoo, who foresaw 1 draw and 2 losses, echoed similar concerns: “Constant positional experiments and recurring injuries have prevented the core lineup from gelling. Tactical cohesion is poor, and simply relying on individual talent is worrying.”

On the other hand, some believe individual brilliance can offset the team’s weaknesses. Reporter Kim Jong-won predicted three wins, stating, “Key players like Son Heung-min, Lee Kang-in, and Kim Min-jae give us a weight advantage over our group opponents.” Reporter Lee Hye-jin, who forecast 2 wins and 1 loss, agreed but added, “The gap between starters and bench players is wide, and the tactical system remains incomplete.”