The Korean national soccer team was among the best groups in the 2026 North American World Cup.
South Korea was in Group A with the winners of Mexico, South Africa, and European Playoff Pass D (Denmark, Czech Republic, Ireland, and North Macedonia) at the 2026 North American World Cup draw held at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC at 2 a.m. on December 6 (Korean time).
Mexico is co-host of 2026 North American World Cup with the United States and Canada. South Korea will play all group games in Mexico.
사진 확대 Hong Myung-bo, coach of the Korean national soccer team. Photo = Courtesy of Yonhap News
사진 확대 Hong Myung-bo, coach of the Korean national soccer team. Photo (Sangam Seoul) = Reporter Chun Jung-hwan
사진 확대 The South Korean national soccer team, led by head coach Hong Myung-bo, won 1-0 against Ghana in a warm-up match against the 2026 North American World Cup at Seoul World Cup Stadium on November 18. Photo (Sangam Seoul) = Reporter Kim Young-gu
South Korea has four wins, three draws and eight losses in 15 matches against Mexico. In the World Cup finals, they faced each other twice and lost both times.
Coach Hong Myung-bo faced Mexico in the first group match of the 1998 World Cup finals in France as a player. At that time, South Korea lost to Mexico 1-3.
This is the first World Cup for South Korea to face South Africa. However, the U-23 national team has one loss in one match against South Africa, and the U-20 national team has two wins and one draw in three matches.
It is difficult to say that the competition with countries in the European Playoff Pass D is superior. South Korea has such records against Denmark (1 draw and 1 loss), the Czech Republic (1 win, 2 draws and 2 losses), Ireland and North Macedonia (no record).
However, it is undeniable that South Korea will face countries with a high chance of winning this World Cup.
사진 확대 Estadio BBVA, the final match of Korea’s group qualifying round, will be held. Photo =â“’AFP BBNews = News1
Korea’s game schedule has also been confirmed.
South Korea’s first group match will be against the winner of the European Playoff Pass D at Estadio Acron in Guadalajara, Mexico, on June 11 next year.
The second game is against Mexico, the host country, at the same place on the 18th of the same month.
Game 3 is against South Africa at the Estadio BBVA in Monterrey, Mexico, on the 24th of the same month.
The game time is up in the air.
사진 확대 South Korea is in Group A. Photo = AFP = Courtesy of Yonhap News
※ South Korea’s Group A match schedule (time not decided)
1st leg (11 June 2026) – European playoff pass D winner (Guadalajara Estadio Akron, Mexico)
2nd round (June 18, 2026)-Mexico (Guadalajara Estadio Akron, Mexico)
3rd round (24 June 2026)-South Africa (Monterrey Estadio BBVA, Mexico)
사진 확대 2026 North American World Cup draw result. Photo = Korea Football Association
※ 2026 North American World Cup draw result
Group A – Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, and Europe Playoff Pass D (Denmark, North Macedonia, Czech Republic, and Ireland)
Group B – Canada, European playoff pass A (Italy, Northern Ireland, Wales, Bosnia and Herzegovina), Qatar, Switzerland
Group C – Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland
Group D – U.S., Paraguay, Australia, European playoff pass C (Turkey, Romania, Slovakia, Kosovo)
Group E – Germany, Quiraso, Ivory Coast, Ecuador
Group F – Netherlands, Japan, European playoff pass B (Ukraine, Sweden, Poland, Albania), Tunisia
Group G – Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand
Group H – Spain, Cabo Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay
Group I – France, Senegal, Intercontinental Playoffs 2 (Iraq, Bolivia, Suriname), Norway
Group J – Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan
Group K – Portugal, Intercontinental Playoff 1 (Democratic Republic of the Congo, Jamaica, New Caledonia), Uzbekistan, Colombia
Group L – England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama
[Lee Geunseung, MK Sports Reporter]