ESP 100%
FRA 12%
BRA 11%
ENG 10%
GER 8%
Tournament outlook
As of July 20, 2026, South Korea have a 0.8% market-implied probability of winning the 2026 World Cup (+12400), the 23rd-best odds of any team, based on live model estimates.
With Son, Lee Kang-in and Kim Min-jae, Korea field arguably their most talented spine ever. A favourable group makes the knockouts a realistic target.
Managed by Hong Myung-bo, South Korea head into the 2026 World Cup in Group A, where they face Mexico, South Africa, Czech Republic. With a FIFA ranking of #25, expectations are calibrated accordingly, but tournament football has a way of rewriting the script.
Key players
Son Heung-min is a South Korean professional footballer who plays as a left winger for Major League Soccer club Los Angeles FC and captains the South Korea national team.
Lee Kang-in is a South Korean professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or winger for Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain and the South Korea national team.
Kim Min-jae is a South Korean professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Bundesliga club Bayern Munich and the South Korea national team.
Strengths & weaknesses
▲ Strengths
- Elite attacking talisman in Son
- Work rate
- Set-piece threat
▼ Weaknesses
- Thin at full-back
- Reliance on individual moments
How far can South Korea go?
South Korea will treat the group stage as their proving ground. An upset over a higher-ranked side would make their tournament a success. Follow our matchup previews and live odds throughout the group stage to track their progress.
