Son Heung-min and coach Hong Myung-bo were seen engaged in conversation during a closed training session for the South Korean national soccer team on the afternoon of the 16th at Gimpo Solter Soccer Field. According to the Korea Football Association, the team has begun preparations ahead of their final friendly match of the year.
The South Korean national football team, under the leadership of Hong Myung-bo, is scheduled to face Ghana in a friendly match on the 18th at 8 PM at the Seoul World Cup Stadium. This training followed the team’s victory over Bolivia, where they secured a 2-0 win on the 14th. After a day of rest, the players were quickly recalled for training.
The training session on the 16th began at 4 PM and lasted approximately one hour, with 24 out of the 26 squad members participating. The two players absent from training were confirmed to be sidelined due to injuries. Goalkeeper Kim Sung-kyu from Tokyo FC suffered a left gluteal muscle injury, while Lee Myung-jae from Daejeon Hana Citizen is dealing with a left hamstring injury, and both were focused on rehabilitation at their accommodations.
The session commenced with light passing drills, where team captain Son Heung-min and eight others who played full or significant minutes in the Bolivia match engaged in recovery training. The remaining players concentrated on tactical drills focusing on positioning. The training concluded with a high-intensity shooting game to elevate the players’ physical condition.
On the 17th, the team will conduct a final preparation session at the Seoul World Cup Stadium in anticipation of the match against Ghana, which marks the conclusion of their two November international matches. Winning both games is critical for the squad, primarily due to the need for ranking points. Currently ranked 22nd by FIFA, a victory in these matches would enhance their chances of being placed in Pot 2 during the draw for the 2026 North American World Cup. Coach Hong emphasized the urgency of this goal, stating that placing in Pot 2 is a top priority for their upcoming matches.
The allocation of draw pots is directly linked to the difficulty of group placement in the finals. Being placed in a higher pot decreases the likelihood of facing stronger teams in the group stage, making it essential for the national team to focus on securing advantageous outcomes. Twelve countries, including the host nations of the USA, Mexico, and Canada, along with the top nine FIFA-ranked teams, have already secured positions in Pot 1 for the draw, which is scheduled for December 6. The 48 nations advancing to the finals will be divided into four pots based on the FIFA rankings announced in November.