Cho Gue-sung

Cho Gue-sung is a confirmed forward in South Korea's 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup, named in the final 26 on 16 May 2026 under Hong Myung-bo. The FC Midtjylland striker is 28 at kick-off and brings 42 senior caps and 10 international goals into the tournament, his second World Cup after the Round-of-16 run at Qatar 2022.

South Korea were drawn in Group A with Mexico, South Africa and Czech Republic, beginning in Zapopan on 11 June. Hong's side qualified by winning their AFC third-round group in June 2025, and Cho gives them a physical target-man option up front, in a forward group that also includes captain Son Heung-min.

Cho Gue-sung is a physical target-man striker who poses a clear aerial threat. He relies on strength in physical battles and finishes clinically inside the box.

That profile gives South Korea a physical centre-forward option, one who can use his aerial threat and convert the chances that fall to him in the area. His 10 international goals fit that profile, and in Hong's 3-4-3 he is one of the team's senior forwards.

An aerial threat and penalty-box presence, Cho Gue-sung scored twice against Ghana in 2022 and brings that same box game to the slot. Strength in the air, physical battles and clinical finishing inside the box are the contribution that gives the pick its goal threat.

Group A pairs them with South Africa, Mexico and the Czech Republic. South Korea cost £10m, the cheap end of Tier 4 within the game's £200m card budget.