South Korea at the 2026 FIFA World Cup
Taegeuk Warriors compete in Group C at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Manager Hong Myung-bo, captain Son Heung-min. AFC qualifier.
South Korea's outlook at the 2026 FIFA World Cup
Sitting at FIFA #22, South Korea are firmly in the "dark horse" tier — capable of a deep knockout run if the draw and form align.
Group C is competitively balanced (avg. opponent rank #26). South Korea can realistically finish anywhere between first and third.
The 2026 tournament uses an expanded 48-team, 12-group format with a new Round of 32. That changes the maths for South Korea: the top two from each group plus the eight best third-placed teams advance, so even a third-place finish in Group C is often enough to reach the knockouts. The first South Korea match of the World Cup is scheduled for Saturday, June 13 against Panama at Lumen Field.
Group C draw analysis
FIFA Ranking, confederation, and last-appearance finish for every team South Korea face in Group C.
| Team | FIFA Rank | Confederation |
|---|---|---|
| South Korea (this page) | #22 | AFC |
| United States | #16 | CONCACAF |
| Denmark | #21 | UEFA |
| Panama | #41 | CONCACAF |
South Korea 2026 World Cup fixtures
Players to watch
Get every player's stats - goals, assists, cards, minutes, xG - via the player stats endpoint for competition_id={COMPETITION_ID}.
South Korea World Cup history
South Korea have appeared at 12 previous FIFA World Cups. Their best finish remains 4th place (2002). Across the last five tournaments they recorded: R16, Group, R16, Group, R16.
Get South Korea data via API
// Fetch South Korea World Cup 2026 matches
const response = await fetch(
'https://api.thestatsapi.com/api/football/matches?competition_id={COMPETITION_ID}&team=south-korea',
{ headers: { 'Authorization': 'Bearer YOUR_API_KEY' } }
);
const { data } = await response.json();Frequently Asked Questions
What group is South Korea in at the 2026 World Cup?
South Korea is in Group C alongside United States, Denmark, Panama. The average opponent FIFA ranking in Group C is #26.
Who is South Korea's manager at the 2026 World Cup?
Hong Myung-bo manages South Korea at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with Son Heung-min as captain.
What is South Korea's best World Cup finish?
South Korea's best FIFA World Cup finish is 4th place (2002). They have appeared in 12 previous World Cup tournaments. Recent form: R16, Group, R16, Group, R16.
Who are South Korea's key players at the 2026 World Cup?
Captain Son Heung-min leads a squad whose standout names include Son Heung-min, Lee Kang-in, Kim Min-jae. The full 26-player squad is named approximately one week before the opening match.
How did South Korea qualify for the 2026 World Cup?
AFC qualifier. They came through the AFC qualifying pathway.
What is South Korea's current FIFA Ranking?
South Korea are ranked #22 in the world by FIFA at the time of the 2026 World Cup draw. Sitting at FIFA #22, South Korea are firmly in the "dark horse" tier — capable of a deep knockout run if the draw and form align.
What are South Korea's chances of winning the 2026 World Cup?
Group C is competitively balanced (avg. opponent rank #26). South Korea can realistically finish anywhere between first and third. Sitting at FIFA #22, South Korea are firmly in the "dark horse" tier — capable of a deep knockout run if the draw and form align.
How can I get South Korea fixtures and stats via API?
Use TheStatsAPI matches endpoint with competition_id={COMPETITION_ID} and filter by team_id to get all South Korea World Cup 2026 fixtures, lineups, live scores, in-play events, xG, and player-level stats. The same endpoint also returns historical World Cup data for South Korea going back to their first tournament.
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