Schalke have secured a Deadline Day signing in the form of Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Hwang Hee-chan, who is joining the Bundesliga club on a season-long loan. The 30-year-old has previously had stints in Germany with Hamburg and RB Leipzig.
With the qualification to the next round still up for grabs, Son Heung-min has been excluded from South Korea's starting lineup for the last group phase game against South Africa. South Korea heads into Matchday 3 of Group A with its qualification for the Round of 32 still hanging in the balance ahead of their final group match against South Africa at Estadio Monterrey. However, in a bold and shocking move, captain Son Heung-min has been left on the substitute bench for this decisive game. Son will begin the match on the bench due to a tactical decision by head coach Hong Myung-bo. While the Tottenham superstar is fully fit, he has struggled to produce in front of goal during the first two matches, prompting the manager to utilize him as a super-sub against South Africa instead. Instead, the starting frontline will feature PSG’s Lee Kang-in on the right wing, Hwang Hee-chan on the left, and Oh Hyeon-gyu leading the attack as the central striker. With this tactical adjustment, the South Korean manager has opted for the physicality of the Besiktas forward to serve as a target man against the athletic South African backline. Son’s struggles in this tournament trace back to the opening match against Czechia, where he took six shots but failed to find the back of the net. Just two minutes after Hwang In-beom scored a 67th-minute equalizer, Son was substituted for Oh Hyeon-gyu, who went on to score the game-winning goal in the 80th minute. Heung-Min Son #7 of Korea Republic shoots while Raul Rangel #1 of Mexico attempts to save. A similar situation unfolded during the second group match against Mexico. Son once again struggled to create dangerous chances, aside from a shot cleared off the line by Edson Alvarez, and was replaced by Oh early in the second half in the 57th minute in what would end up being a 1-0 defeat against El Tri. A rare bench appearance for the Korean captain Following his breakthrough onto soccer’s biggest stage, Son Heung-min quickly established himself as the undisputed superstar and captain of the South Korean national team. However, starting tonight’s critical match against South Africa on the sidelines marks an incredibly rare moment in the legendary forward’s international career. Since making his tournament debut in 2014, Son has featured in all 12 of South Korea’s World Cup matches across the 2018, 2022, and 2026 World Cup campaigns. He had started every single one of those fixtures and was subbed off just four times, making this clash against South Africa the first World Cup game of his career that he will watch from the dugout at kickoff.
South Africa and South Korea square off in Group A to close out the opening phase of the 2026 World Cup, with both sides fighting for a ticket to the knockout rounds. The Group A of the 2026 World Cup comes to an end as South Africa face South Korea at Monterrey Stadium. This final group stage match serves as a definitive fixture for both nations as they battle to book a spot in the highly anticipated Round of 32. Despite suffering a narrow 1-0 defeat to co-hosts Mexico on Matchday 2, South Korea remain in an excellent position to advance. Their opening-day 2-1 victory over Czechia means the Taegeuk Warriors control their own destiny. For this South Korea’s crucial game, Son Heung-min won’t feature in the starting lineup, where a draw will be enough to officially guarantee their place in the next round. The path ahead is significantly steeper for South Africa. The Bafana Bafana have accumulated just one point in the group standings, courtesy of a dramatic, late equalizer against Czechia on Matchday 2. Consequently, South Africa face a non-negotiable must-win scenario to keep their World Cup journey alive. Teboho Mokoena #4 of South Africa celebrates a goal vs Czech Republic. (Getty Images) South Africa confirmed lineup With a victory being the only avenue to secure a spot in the Round of 32, manager Hugo Broos is expected to field his absolute strongest XI to spearhead the attack and hunt for all three points. South Africa’s confirmed lineup: Ronwen Williams; Khuliso Mudau, Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Ime Okon, Aubrey Modiba; Thalente Mbatha, Sphephelo Sithole; Thapelo Maseko, Relebohile Mofokeng, Oswin Appollis; Evidence Makgopa. South Korea confirmed lineup Manager Hong Myung-bo faces late fitness tests on two key starters. Defender Kim Min-jae and midfielder Bae Jun-ho are both racing against the clock after picking up ankle knocks, meaning they could potentially start on the bench. South Korea’s confirmed lineup: Kim Seung-gyu; Han-Beom Lee, Kim Min-jae, Gi-Hyuk Lee; Young-woo Seol, Paik Seung-ho, Hwang In-beom, Lee Tae-seok; Lee Kang-in, Hwang Hee-chan; Oh Hyeon-gyu.
Mexico goes toe-to-toe with South Korea in a crucial 2026 World Cup Group A matchup, where both teams are hunting for early knockout-stage qualification. The Guadalajara Stadium is locked for a massive 2026 World Cup showdown as co-hosts Mexico take on South Korea for Matchday 2 of Group A. With a coveted ticket to the Round of 32 squarely on the line, a victory for either nation would automatically punch their ticket out of the group stage early. El Tri enter the match on a high after dominating South Africa 2-0 in the tournament opener. Julián Quiñones will feature in Javier Aguirre’s setup, but his status as a starter hangs on a late fitness test. The Al-Qadsiah forward picked up a minor knock late in the opener and has been nursing the injury in training camp, making him a slight doubt to log a full 90 minutes. Across the pitch, South Korea will prove a formidable roadblock. The Asian giants demonstrated immense resilience on Matchday 1, orchestrating a brilliant second-half comeback to edge past Czechia 2-1 and keep their own perfect start alive. In-Beom Hwang #6 of Korea Republic celebrates scoring vs Czech Republic. (Getty Images) Mexico confirmed lineup Javier Aguirre will be forced into at least one mandatory tactical adjustment. Defensive anchor Cesar Montes received a red card in the opener against South Africa, meaning he is suspended for the clash in Guadalajara. West Ham star Edson Alvarez is expected to slide deeper into the backline to partner Johan Vásquez. Mexico’s confirmed lineup: Raúl Rangel; Jorge Sánchez, Edson Álvarez, Johan Vásquez, Jesús Gallardo; Erik Lira, Brian Gutiérrez, Luis Romo; Roberto Alvarado, Raúl Jiménez, Julián Quiñones. South Korea confirmed lineup In stark contrast, South Korea manager Hong Myung-bo boasts a fully fit contingent. The squad emerged completely unscathed from their physical battle against Czechia, leaving them clear of any injury or disciplinary concerns. South Korea’s confirmed lineup: Kim Seung-gyu; Han-beom Lee, Kim Min-jae, Kim Moon-hwan, Young-woo Seol; Lee Jin-hyuk, Hwang In-beom; Seung-Ho Paik, Lee Kang-in, Lee Jae-sung; Son Heung-min.
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