World Cup
South Korea
Competition: Coupe du Monde | Active season: 2026
South Korea
vs
Trinidad and Tobago
5 - 0
South Korea
vs
El Salvador
1 - 0
South Korea
vs
Czech Republic
2 - 1
Mexico
vs
South Korea
1 - 0
South Africa
vs
South Korea
1 - 0
Footlab Data
Group A
Group A
Group standings
| # | Team | MJ | G | N | P | Diff | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mexico | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 9 |
| 2 | South Africa | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -1 | 4 |
| 3 | South Korea | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -1 | 3 |
| 4 | Czech Republic | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | -4 | 1 |
Footlab Data
Statistiques détaillées
Footlab Data
Footlab profile
Offensive potential
64,0/100
High
Defensive stability
53,4/100
Stable
Game control
53,8/100
Stable
Regularity
72,0/100
Very high
Mental resilience
40,9/100
Building
Footlab Data
South Korea National Team Profile - 2026 World Cup Analysis
South Korea World Cup 2026: Data Analysis, Strengths, and Projection
South Korea enters the 2026 World Cup as the metronome of Asian football. With 11 consecutive appearances, the Taeguk Warriors have evolved: they no longer rely solely on legendary endurance but on a "Technical Verticality" profile. Led by world-class pillars (Son Heung-min, Kim Min-jae), they now blend elite defensive rigor with ultra-fast transition capabilities, able to punish any European or South American side on the counter.
Global Positioning
South Korea is positioned as the most disciplined outsider in the tournament. They are the "litmus test" team: their level of physical intensity is such that they force opponents to produce their best football to stand a chance of winning.
- Status: Major Outsider / AFC Leader
- Projection: Round of 16 (Consistent objective)
- Risk: Dependency on individual sparks in the final third
Footlab Profile
| Criteria | Level |
|---|---|
| Attacking Potential | High (Counter-attacks) |
| Defensive Stability | High (Strong central axis) |
| Game Control | Medium to High |
| Consistency | Exceptional |
| Physical Fitness | Elite (Global Top 5) |
Structural Strengths
- Tactical Discipline and Work Rate: A unique ability to maintain coordinated pressing and above-average running intensity for 90 minutes.
- World-Class Defensive Core: The presence of defenders playing in Europe's top leagues secures the low block.
- Lightning Transitions: A historical specialty in breaking forward immediately upon ball recovery.
- Tournament Experience: A squad accustomed to global exposure that fears no opponent, regardless of FIFA ranking.
Structural Weaknesses
- Creativity vs Low Blocks: Persistent difficulties in creating clear chances when the opponent refuses to commit and closes down spaces.
- Squad Depth: A gap in tactical maturity between the starting XI and rotation options during a long tournament.
- Defending Set-Pieces: Can be troubled by nations imposing a raw physical challenge and high aerial threat.
- Handling Pressure: A tendency to drop too deep under prolonged technical pressure.
Tactical Brief
South Korea primarily operates in a dynamic 4-2-3-1 or a pragmatic 3-5-2:
- Offensive Phase: Vertical play, immediate search for fast wingers, and runs in behind.
- Defensive Phase: Compact mid-block, harassing pressing in the midfield.
- Identity: "Total and generous" football where collective sacrifice is the priority.
Match Typology
- Vs Weaker Teams: Strong territorial dominance, but often resulting in narrow victories.
- Vs Similar Teams: Balanced possession battle often decided by late-game endurance.
- Vs Top Tier Teams: Ideal "Banana Skin" profile; capable of frustrating the opponent and stinging them on an individual brilliance.
2026 Key Performance Factors
South Korea's success will primarily depend on:
- the physical health of veteran leaders (Son Heung-min)
- the emergence of a new creative guard in the midfield
- their ability to convert dominant spells without wasting chances
Footlab Projection
South Korea possesses a Round of 16 ceiling. Their consistency and intensity make them a safe bet to progress through the group stage, especially with the new 48-team format.
Projection: Round of 16 (High statistical certainty)
Optimal Scenario: A quarter-final run driven by a collective upset against a top seed.
Betting Insights
- ✔️ High potential in "Total Distance Covered" markets
- ✔️ Interesting for "Goals after the 75th minute" (wearing down opponents)
- ⚠️ Caution on "Win by 2+ goals" odds (scores are often tight)
- ✔️ Value in "Double Chance" against European favorites lacking rhythm
Conclusion
South Korea is a guarantee of intense and disciplined football. In 2026, the Taeguk Warriors will be the ultimate physical hurdle for any nation dreaming of the world title.
Warm-up Matches (June 2026)
June 5, 2026 — South Korea 1–0 El Salvador (WC 2026 warm-up match)
Unlock the Footlab analysis for South Korea
The World Cup Pass opens match analysis, the comparator, the Expert Match Center and the dedicated dashboard to follow South Korea throughout the World Cup.
- Analytical tournament tracking with a simulated starting capital of EUR 100.
- Access to groups, results and bracket as soon as they are available.
- Comparator and dedicated modules reserved for pass holders.
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Comparator
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International history
Matches from the last 4 years
South Africa
vs
Canada
0 - 1
South Africa
vs
South Korea
1 - 0
Mexico
vs
South Korea
1 - 0
Czech Republic
vs
South Africa
1 - 1
South Korea
vs
Czech Republic
2 - 1
Mexico
vs
South Africa
2 - 0
Jamaica
vs
South Africa
1 - 1
South Korea
vs
El Salvador
1 - 0
South Korea
vs
Trinidad and Tobago
5 - 0
South Africa
vs
Nicaragua
0 - 0
Austria
vs
South Korea
1 - 0
South Africa
vs
Panama
1 - 2
South Korea
vs
Ivory Coast
0 - 4
South Africa
vs
Panama
1 - 1
South Africa
vs
Cameroon
1 - 2
Zimbabwe
vs
South Africa
2 - 3
Egypt
vs
South Africa
1 - 0
South Africa
vs
Angola
2 - 1
South Africa
vs
Ghana B
1 - 0
South Korea
vs
Ghana
1 - 0
South Africa
vs
Zambia
3 - 1
South Korea
vs
Bolivia
2 - 0
South Africa
vs
Rwanda
3 - 0
South Korea
vs
Paraguay
2 - 0
Zimbabwe
vs
South Africa
0 - 0
South Korea
vs
Brazil
0 - 5
Mexico
vs
South Korea
2 - 2
South Africa
vs
Nigeria
1 - 1
United States
vs
South Korea
0 - 2
Lesotho
vs
South Africa
0 - 3
South Africa
vs
Mozambique
2 - 0
South Korea
vs
Kuwait
4 - 0
South Africa
vs
Tanzania
0 - 0
Iraq
vs
South Korea
0 - 2
South Africa
vs
Malawi
2 - 0
Malawi
vs
South Africa
1 - 0
Benin
vs
South Africa
0 - 2
South Korea
vs
Jordan
1 - 1
South Korea
vs
Oman
1 - 1
Egypt
vs
South Africa
1 - 3
South Africa
vs
Egypt
1 - 1
South Africa
vs
South Sudan
3 - 0
Palestine
vs
South Korea
1 - 1
Uganda
vs
South Africa
0 - 2
Kuwait
vs
South Korea
1 - 3
Congo
vs
South Africa
1 - 1
South Korea
vs
Iraq
3 - 2
South Africa
vs
Congo
5 - 0
Jordan
vs
South Korea
0 - 2
Oman
vs
South Korea
1 - 3
South Sudan
vs
South Africa
2 - 3
South Africa
vs
Uganda
2 - 2
South Korea
vs
Palestine
0 - 0
South Africa
vs
Zimbabwe
3 - 1
South Korea
vs
China
1 - 0
Nigeria
vs
South Africa
1 - 1
Singapore
vs
South Korea
0 - 7
Algeria
vs
South Africa
3 - 3
Thailand
vs
South Korea
0 - 3
Andorra
vs
South Africa
1 - 1
South Korea
vs
Thailand
1 - 1
South Africa
vs
DR Congo
0 - 0
Nigeria
vs
South Africa
1 - 1
Jordan
vs
South Korea
2 - 0
Cape Verde Islands
vs
South Africa
0 - 0
Australia
vs
South Korea
1 - 2
Morocco
vs
South Africa
0 - 2
Saudi Arabia
vs
South Korea
1 - 1
South Korea
vs
Malaysia
3 - 3
South Africa
vs
Tunisia
0 - 0
South Africa
vs
Namibia
4 - 0
Jordan
vs
South Korea
2 - 2
Mali
vs
South Africa
2 - 0
South Korea
vs
Bahrain
3 - 1
South Africa
vs
Lesotho
0 - 0
Iraq
vs
South Korea
0 - 1
Rwanda
vs
South Africa
2 - 0
China
vs
South Korea
0 - 3
South Africa
vs
Benin
2 - 1
South Korea
vs
Singapore
5 - 0
Ivory Coast
vs
South Africa
1 - 1
South Korea
vs
Vietnam
6 - 0
South Africa
vs
Eswatini
0 - 0
South Korea
vs
Tunisia
4 - 0
Saudi Arabia
vs
South Korea
0 - 1
South Africa
vs
DR Congo
1 - 0
South Africa
vs
Namibia
0 - 0
Wales
vs
South Korea
0 - 0
South Korea
vs
El Salvador
1 - 1
South Africa
vs
Morocco
2 - 1
South Korea
vs
Peru
0 - 1
Liberia
vs
South Africa
1 - 2
South Korea
vs
Uruguay
1 - 2
South Africa
vs
Liberia
2 - 2
South Korea
vs
Colombia
2 - 2
Brazil
vs
South Korea
4 - 1
South Korea
vs
Portugal
2 - 1
South Korea
vs
Ghana
2 - 3
Uruguay
vs
South Korea
0 - 0
South Africa
vs
Angola
1 - 1
South Africa
vs
Mozambique
2 - 1
South Korea
vs
Iceland
1 - 0
South Africa
vs
Botswana
1 - 0
South Korea
vs
Cameroon
1 - 0
South Africa
vs
Sierra Leone
4 - 0
South Korea
vs
Costa Rica
2 - 2