Son Heung-min is set to make history once again. The South Korean captain has been named to his fourth World Cup squad, announced Saturday, as the Taeguk Warriors prepare for another shot at glory on football's biggest stage.
Now 33 and playing for LAFC in Major League Soccer after his legendary stint with Tottenham Hotspur, Son will turn 34 during the tournament in July. He leads a seasoned squad blending veteran experience with emerging talent, including Paris Saint-Germain midfield maestro Lee Kang-in, Bayern Munich defensive rock Kim Min-jae, and Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Hwang Hee-chan.
South Korea faces a challenging Group A alongside co-hosts Mexico, the Czech Republic, and South Africa. All their group-stage matches will be played in Mexico, kicking off against the Czech Republic on June 11.
Manager Hong Myung-bo has assembled a 26-man roster that also features Besiktas striker Oh Hyeon-gyu, Celtic's Yang Hyun-jin, and Birmingham City's Paik Seung-ho. Notably, German-born Jens Castrop of Borussia Moenchengladbach earned a call-up, adding depth to the midfield.
The full squad showcases talent from across the globe:
Goalkeepers: Jo Hyeon-woo (Ulsan), Kim Seung-gyu (FC Tokyo), Song Bum-keun (Jeonbuk)
Defenders: Kim Moon-hwan (Daejeon), Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich), Kim Tae-hyon (Kashima Antlers), Park Jin-seob (Zhejiang), Seol Young-woo (Red Star Belgrade), Jens Castrop (Borussia Moenchengladbach), Lee Ki-hyuk (Gangwon), Lee Tae-seok (Austria Wien), Lee Han-beom (Midtjylland), Cho Yu-min (Sharjah)
Midfielders: Kim Jin-gyu (Jeonbuk), Bae Jun-ho (Stoke City), Paik Seung-ho (Birmingham), Yang Hyun-jun (Celtic), Eom Ji-sung (Swansea), Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain), Lee Dong-gyeong (Ulsan), Lee Jae-sung (Mainz), Hwang In-beom (Feyenoord), Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton)
Forwards: Son Heung-min (LAFC), Oh Hyeon-gyu (Besiktas), Cho Gue-sung (Midtjylland)
With Son leading the charge and a squad packed with top-flight talent, South Korea looks ready to make waves—and perhaps a deep run—in what promises to be an unforgettable World Cup.