Director Hong Myung-bo, the reason for exclusion was clear

The Korean national football team (ranking 23rd in FIFA) will have a showdown with the Palestinians in the first round of the third Asian qualifying round for the 2026 FIFA World Cup North-China (USA, Canada-Mexico) at Seoul World Cup Stadium on May 5. The team will then play the second round of the third qualifying round at Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Oman and Muscat, Oman, on May 10.

Ahead of the two games, coach Hong Myung-bo held a press conference to announce the World Cup qualification list in September at 11 a.m. on the 26th in the conference room on the second floor of the soccer center in Jongno-gu, Seoul.  

There was a big change in the list. First of all, Kim Joon-hong (Jeonbuk Hyundai), Kim Moon-hwan (Daejeon Hana Citizen), Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich), Seol Young-woo (Zvezda), Lee Han-beom (Mit Willan), Jung Seung-hyun (Ulsan HD), Choi Woo-jin (Incheon United), Hwang Moon-ki, Yang Min-hyuk (Gangwon FC), Um Ji-sung (Swansea City), Lee Dong-kyung (Kim Cheon Sang-mu), and Jung Ho-yeon (Gwangju FC) were listed. Players who were not selected due to injuries at the time, such as Kim Min-jae and Seol Young-woo, returned, and some players, including Lee Han-beom, Choi Woo-jin, Hwang Moon-ki, and Yang Min-hyuk, wore the national flag for the first time.

On the contrary, Hwang In-jae (Pohang Steelers), Park Seung-wook (Kimcheon Managing Director), Cho Yoo-min (Sharja), Ha Chang-rae (Nagoya), Kim Jin-soo (Jeonbuk Hyundai), Hwang Jae-won (Daegu FC), Choi Joon (FC Seoul), Hong Hyun-seok (KAAhent), Bae Jun-ho (Stoke City), and Um Won-sang (Ulsan HD), who were selected at the time of the A match in June, were not called for this call-up.

In particular, fans questioned the exclusion of Bae. Coach Hong Myung-bo said, "Bae Joon-ho recently suffered an injury. He played in the last game, but due to the injury period, he checked enough time. I know Bae's ability. However, as a result, in the competition between Bae and Um Ji-sung, we judged that Um Ji-sung is better in terms of overall form and performance."

As Hong Myung-bo mentioned, Bae suffered an injury during the pre-season and recently returned to the team. Wearing a stalk uniform last summer, Bae immediately became a key offensive resource for his team. Due to Bae's performance, Stoke will remain on the verge of relegation and remain in the championship stage for the next season. This made Bae the player of the year for the 2023-24 season. He was also named to the national team for the first time in an A-match series in June.

However, he failed to board the "Hong Myung-bo 2nd" for the first time. It is because of his injury. Bae Jun-ho missed the first round of the League Cup against Carlisle on the 14th. Fortunately, he was on the bench list for the showdown against Watford on the 17th, and he was substituted in the 18th minute of the second half.

Bae made a perfect comeback from injury. Bae started at a league game against West Bromwich Albion (WBA) held on Monday. After playing for about 70 minutes, Bae was substituted.

Although he is in good physical condition enough to play in matches, Hong had no plan to overexert himself. He had no reason to hurriedly select a player who had just returned from injury and was seeking form. Instead, Hong selected Um Ji-sung, who is wearing a Swansea uniform, after leaving Gwangju this summer. Um Ji-sung has demonstrated his capability in the U.K. stage by posting one assist in four official matches (one substitution) held since his transfer to Swansea. As a result, Hong said he selected Um Ji-sung considering his recent form.

The competition for the second term is expected to heat up further. There is a superstar named Son Heung-min on the left, but there is no player yet to be called a clear main player on the right. Hwang Hee-chan may play, but it is true that he feels more comfortable on the left. Um Ji-sung, Bae Jun-ho and Um Won-sang are expected to build a fierce competition for the right wing forward position.

BY: 토토사이트 순위