South Korea head coach Hong Myung-bo has confirmed that team captain Son Heung-min will be managed carefully during the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Iraq and Kuwait.
Son, who has been recovering from a foot injury for the past two months, made only a brief appearance in Tottenham’s 1–0 win over Manchester United in the Europa League final.
With South Korea three points clear at the top of Group B, they only need to avoid defeat against Iraq on 5 June in Basra to book their place at an 11th consecutive World Cup.
Speaking to reporters, Hong said: “He and I have not yet discussed exactly how much he will play, but my staff and I already know all about his drive and desire to play. Since we have two matches coming up as part of World Cup qualification, I will not push him too hard.”
The coach hinted that a decision on Son’s playing time will be made once the team arrives in Iraq: “We will decide which of the two matches to prioritise.”
Even if Son doesn’t play, Hong emphasized the value of his presence: “We’ll probably be playing in a hostile environment, in front of partisan fans. We have some players who are experienced in such situations, and Son’s leadership will be important whether he’s on the field or not.”
