SEOUL, December 06 (AJP) - South Korea landed in what many analysts consider a manageable Group A for the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup, avoiding global powerhouses and setting the stage for Hong Myung-bo’s squad to target its first-ever overseas quarterfinal run.
At Friday’s draw held at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., the Taegeuk Warriors were grouped with host nation Mexico, South Africa, and the yet-to-be-determined winner of European Playoff Path D—a four-way contest among Denmark, Czechia, Ireland and North Macedonia scheduled for March.
For Hong Myung-bo, whose side topped the Asian Qualifiers Group B unbeaten (6 wins, 4 draws), the result offered relief and realism: South Korea dodged tournament favorites such as France, Spain, Argentina and Brazil, but must still confront a historically difficult Mexican side on home soil.
Favorable logistic: All matches in Mexico
South Korea will also enjoy the rare advantage of staying in a single country for the entire group stage—minimizing travel fatigue across the vast North American tournament footprint.
June 12 (Guadalajara) – vs. European playoff winner
June 19 (Guadalajara) – vs. Mexico
June 25 (Monterrey) – vs. South Africa
The schedule offers both stability and climate consistency, with the team avoiding long-haul flights between the United States and Canada that other groups must endure.
Mexico clash likely to decide the group
While Mexico enters the tournament with the second-lowest FIFA ranking among host nations (15th), the team’s athletic, high-tempo style has historically troubled Korea. El Tri leads the all-time series 8–4–3, including World Cup wins in 1998 and 2018.
The two sides most recently fought to a 2–2 draw in a friendly in Los Angeles in September, reinforcing expectations of a tight, tactical battle.
The U.S. media reaction also highlights Korea as Mexico’s main challenger for top spot in Group A. USA TODAY noted the matchup as “a battle of overall tactical quality,” with Korea’s European-based stars—Son Heung-min, Kim Min-jae and Lee Kang-in—forming the spine of a squad entering its 12th consecutive World Cup.
South Africa: a wild card with momentum
South Africa, FIFA-ranked 61st and the lowest-ranked team in Pot 3, appears on paper to be the least threatening opponent. But Bafana Bafana arrive with renewed confidence after finishing atop their CAF qualifying group ahead of Nigeria.
The two nations have never played each other, making the final group match an unpredictable but potentially decisive encounter.
The biggest variable is the unidentified European entrant. The Path D playoff unfolds next March: Czechia vs. Ireland (March 26) winner meets , Denmark vs. North Macedonia (March 26) winner, Final playoff: March 31.
Among them, Denmark (21st) poses the toughest challenge, while North Macedonia (65th) would be the most favorable draw for all three Group A teams.
Hong Myung-bo’s mission: a historic overseas breakthrough
South Korea enters the North American World Cup as a consistent qualifier with rising expectations. Since debuting in 1954, the national team has reached the knockout stage three times, and famously reached the semifinals in 2002 under Guus Hiddink. Hong, who captained that squad, now seeks to guide Korea to its first quarterfinal on foreign soil.
The path is clearer than in recent tournaments: with 48 participating nations and third-place teams eligible for the Round of 32, Group A provides multiple mathematical routes for advancement.
A draw free of giants—but full of nuance
While Korea avoided the dreaded "Group of Death," Group A is far from predictable as Mexico is dangerous at home and historically strong against Korea, South Africa is inconsistent but capable of giant-killing, and the European playoff winner could dramatically shift the group’s difficulty.
Still, compared with groups featuring Spain–Uruguay (H), France–Senegal (I), or England–Croatia (L), Korea’s prospects appear brighter.
As Hong Myung-bo put it privately before the draw, the mission is simple: “Avoid the giants early, control our travel and create our chances.” Korea got all three.
"It's a little good for us.' South Korea was in Group A with Mexico, one of the co-hosts, South Africa of Africa, and the winner of the European Playoffs (PO) D. Among soccer fans, there is a reaction of "'Greatest honey team ever", he told Korean reporters after the draw.
It has become a World Cup in Mexico instead of across Americas, he said as he moved onto tactics.
"The first and second games will be held at 1,600 meters above the ground. The third game is not that high, but it is very humid and matches are played in temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius. I think that will be the biggest and most important pointIt takes at least 10 days or more than two weeks to adapt to the highlands. If I call up the national team, I think I'll have to go and adapt right away."
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