Written and Fact-checked by Whereig Editors | Last Updated On: June 02, 2026
South Korea have qualified for every FIFA World Cup since 1986 - a run of ten straight tournaments - and famously reached the semi-finals on home soil in 2002, the best result ever by an Asian nation. This page covers their complete World Cup stats, all-time records, top scorers, head-to-head results, the full 2026 squad, and their Group A schedule against Mexico, South Africa, and Czechia kicking off in Guadalajara on June 11.
South Korea enters the 2026 FIFA World Cup cycle as one of Asia’s most successful football nations with a strong international record and experienced squad. Explore South Korea’s latest squad list, fixtures, records, results, and all-time FIFA World Cup statistics.
South Korea has consistently qualified for FIFA World Cups and continues to remain one of the strongest teams in Asian football. The squad features experienced European-based players along with emerging domestic talent across multiple positions.
The national side is known for its fast attacking style, disciplined structure, and strong work rate in major tournaments. South Korea’s experience and consistency continue to make the team highly competitive on the global stage.
South Korea FIFA World Cup Quick Facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Country | South Korea |
| Football Association | Korea Football Association (KFA) |
| Confederation | AFC |
| Nickname | Taeguk Warriors |
| FIFA Ranking | Top 30 |
| First FIFA World Cup Appearance | 1954 |
| Total FIFA World Cup Appearances | 11 |
| Consecutive Appearances | 10 (1986-2022) |
| Best FIFA World Cup Finish | Fourth Place (2002) |
| Total Matches Played | 38 |
| Total Wins | 7 |
| Total Draws | 10 |
| Total Losses | 21 |
| Goals Scored | 39 |
| Goals Conceded | 78 |
| Win Percentage | 18.4% |
| Clean Sheets | 8 |
| Penalty Shootout Record | Won 1, Lost 1 |
| Most World Cup Matches by Player | Hong Myung-bo - 16 |
| Most Goals by Player | Park Ji-sung - 3 |
| Largest Victory | 2-0 vs Germany (2018) |
| Biggest Defeat | 0-9 vs Hungary (1954) |
| Latest FIFA World Cup Appearance | 2022 |
South Korea FIFA World Cup 2026 Full Squad List
Coach: Hong Myung-bo
| S.N. | Position | Player | Caps | Goals | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Goalkeeper | Song Bumkeun | 8 | 0 | Jeonbuk |
| 2 | Goalkeeper | Jo Hyeonwoo | 44 | 0 | Ulsan |
| 3 | Goalkeeper | Kim Seung-gyu | 82 | 0 | FC Tokyo |
| 4 | Defender | Jens Castrop | 2 | 0 | Borussia Monchengladbach |
| 5 | Defender | Lee Hanbeom | 6 | 0 | Midtjylland |
| 6 | Defender | Park Jinseob | 11 | 0 | Zhejiang FC |
| 7 | Defender | Lee Kihyuk | 3 | 0 | Gangwon |
| 8 | Defender | Kim Minjae | 73 | 4 | Bayern Munich |
| 9 | Defender | Kim Moonhwan | 42 | 1 | Daejeon |
| 10 | Defender | Kim Taehyeon | 1 | 0 | Kashima Antlers |
| 11 | Defender | Lee Taeseok | 9 | 0 | Austria Wien |
| 12 | Defender | Seol Youngwoo | 31 | 1 | Crvena Zvezda |
| 13 | Defender | Cho Yumin | 20 | 2 | Sharjah |
| 14 | Midfielder | Lee Donggyeong | 25 | 4 | Ulsan |
| 15 | Midfielder | Hwang Heechan | 71 | 16 | Wolves |
| 16 | Midfielder | Yang Hyunjun | 18 | 3 | Celtic |
| 17 | Midfielder | Hwang Inbeom | 64 | 7 | Feyenoord |
| 18 | Midfielder | Lee Jaesung | 92 | 13 | FSV Mainz |
| 19 | Midfielder | Kim Jingyu | 2 | 0 | Jeonbuk |
| 20 | Midfielder | Eom Jisung | 12 | 1 | Swansea |
| 21 | Midfielder | Bae Junho | 14 | 2 | Stoke |
| 22 | Midfielder | Lee Kangin | 39 | 9 | PSG |
| 23 | Midfielder | Paik Seungho | 26 | 4 | Birmingham |
| 24 | Forward | Cho Guesung | 39 | 14 | Midtjylland |
| 25 | Forward | Son Heungmin | 137 | 51 | LAFC |
| 26 | Forward | Oh Hyeongyu | 15 | 5 | Besiktas |
South Korea FIFA World Cup 2026 Schedule
| Match No. | Date | Match | Venue | City | Stage | Time (Local) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Thu, June 11 | Korea Republic vs Czechia | Estadio Guadalajara | Zapopan | Group Stage | 20:00 |
| 28 | Thu, June 18 | Mexico vs Korea Republic | Estadio Guadalajara | Zapopan | Group Stage | 19:00 |
| 54 | Wed, June 24 | South Africa vs Korea Republic | Estadio Monterrey (BBVA) | Monterrey | Group Stage | 20:00 |
Korea Republic FIFA World Cup 2026 Results
| Date | Match | Match Score | Venue | Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 June 2026 | Korea Republic vs Czechia | Korea Republic Won 2-1 | Estadio Guadalajara, Zapopan | Group Stage |
| 18 June 2026 | Mexico vs Korea Republic | Upcoming Fixture | Estadio Guadalajara, Zapopan | Group Stage |
| 24 June 2026 | South Africa vs Korea Republic | Upcoming Fixture | Estadio Monterrey (BBVA), Monterrey | Group Stage |
South Korea FIFA World Cup 2026 Results
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mexico (H) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| 2 | South Korea | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 3 | Czech Republic | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 0 |
| 4 | South Africa | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 |
South Korea FIFA World Cup Best Performances
| Year | Host Country | Performance |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | South Korea/Japan | Fourth Place |
| 2010 | South Africa | Round of 16 |
| 2022 | Qatar | Round of 16 |
South Korea All-Time FIFA World Cup Stats
| Stat | Record |
|---|---|
| Total Matches Played | 38 |
| Wins | 7 |
| Draws | 10 |
| Losses | 21 |
| Goals Scored | 39 |
| Goals Conceded | 78 |
| Clean Sheets | 8 |
| Round of 16 Appearances | 2 |
South Korea Most FIFA World Cup Appearances
| Rank | Player | Matches | Tournaments | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hong Myung-bo | 16 | 4 | 1990-2002 |
| 2 | Son Heung-min | 11 | 3 | 2014-2022 |
| 3 | Park Ji-sung | 14 | 3 | 2002-2010 |
| 4 | Lee Young-pyo | 11 | 3 | 2002-2010 |
| 5 | Ki Sung-yueng | 9 | 3 | 2010-2018 |
| 6 | Cha Du-ri | 8 | 2 | 2002-2010 |
| 7 | Kim Nam-il | 10 | 3 | 2002-2010 |
| 8 | Lee Woon-jae | 9 | 3 | 1994-2006 |
| 9 | Cho Hyun-woo | 6 | 2 | 2018-2022 |
| 10 | Hwang Hee-chan | 6 | 2 | 2018-2022 |
South Korea Top Scorers in FIFA World Cup
| Rank | Player | Goals | Matches | World Cups |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Park Ji-sung | 3 | 14 | 2002-2010 |
| 2 | Ahn Jung-hwan | 3 | 9 | 2002-2006 |
| 3 | Son Heung-min | 3 | 11 | 2014-2022 |
| 4 | Cho Gue-sung | 2 | 4 | 2022 |
| 5 | Lee Jung-soo | 2 | 4 | 2010 |
| 6 | Yoo Sang-chul | 2 | 8 | 1998-2002 |
| 7 | Hwang Sun-hong | 2 | 6 | 1990-2002 |
| 8 | Ki Sung-yueng | 1 | 9 | 2010-2018 |
| 9 | Lee Chung-yong | 1 | 8 | 2010-2014 |
| 10 | Hwang Hee-chan | 1 | 6 | 2018-2022 |
FAQs About South Korea FIFA World Cup Records
South Korea achieved its best FIFA World Cup finish in 2002 after reaching fourth place.
South Korea has appeared in 11 FIFA World Cup tournaments.
Park Ji-sung, Ahn Jung-hwan, and Son Heung-min are among South Korea’s leading FIFA World Cup goalscorers.
Hong Myung-bo holds the record for the most FIFA World Cup appearances for South Korea.
South Korea co-hosted the 2002 FIFA World Cup along with Japan.