Kim Jin-Gyu

Kim Jin-gyu is a central midfielder named in Hong Myung-bo's final 26-man Korea Republic squad for the 2026 World Cup, listed among the midfielders. He is 29 at kick-off and plays his club football in the K League for Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors. He brings 18 senior Korea Republic caps and three international goals into the tournament, having been named in the official 26-man squad announced on 16 May 2026.

Korea Republic face Czech Republic, Mexico and South Africa in Group A, opening against the Czech Republic at Estadio Akron in Zapopan on 11 June. Hong Myung-bo's side qualified by winning their AFC third-round group on 5 June 2025, and Kim is one of the midfielders he named in that confirmed 26-man squad.

Kim is a central midfielder, the position he plays for Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in the K League and the one in which Hong Myung-bo named him among Korea Republic's midfielders for the 2026 World Cup. His three international goals in 18 caps are a midfielder's return rather than a goalscorer's.

At 29, he is one of the central-midfield names Hong Myung-bo took into the 2026 World Cup, with 18 caps for Korea Republic to his name.

Kim Jin-gyu adds a central midfielder to Korea Republic's Goal Rush squad: a 29-year-old with 18 caps and three international goals for Korea Republic, playing his club football for Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors. That central-midfield role, rather than a goal tally, is what he offers the team pick. Korea Republic's £10m place sits in Tier 4, a low-band call within the game's £200m card budget, and the Group A draw sets the early fixtures for that pick.