Current FIFA Ranking: 22
Highest FIFA Ranking: 17 (December 1998)
Lowest FIFA Ranking: 69 (January 2015)
Football Team Nickname: Taegeuk Warriors
Honours: Asian Cup (2): 1956, 1960
Head coach: Hong Myung-Bo (since July 2024, second spell)
Top scorer in qualifying: Heung-Min Son (10)
Star players: Heung-Min Son (LAFC), Hwang Hee-Chan (Wolves), Lee Kang-In (PSG)
Regular qualifiers for the World Cup (this is their 11th consecutive participation), Korea Republic have struggled to make an impact on the finals bar a fourth-place finish as co-hosts in 2002.
Son’s move to Los Angeles in summer 2025 will make him an even more recognisable face but he is captain of an ageing squad in what he has said will be his final appearances at the World Cup.
A veteran of four World Cups as a player, including captain of the 2002 side that finished fourth (won the Bronze Ball and named in Team of the Tournament), Hong Myung-Bo was appointed in July 2024 - also in charge at the 2014 finals he resigned after a winless campaign in Brazil. His joint-national record of 136 caps was overtaken by Son in October.
Previous World Cup appearances (11):
2022: Round of 16 (L1-4 v Brazil)
2018: Group stage
2014: Group stage
2010: Round of 16
2006: Group stage
2002: Fourth
1998: Group stage
1994: Group stage
1990: Group stage
1986: Group stage
1954: Group stage
