The current head coach of the Korean team, one of the heroes of the 2022 World Cup campaign - former defender Hong Myung-bo, is showing his dissatisfaction when center back Kim Min-jae is in poor condition before the FIFA Days gathering in March.
The Bayern star will miss both matches against Oman and Jordan due to a heel injury he suffered while playing for the club. Kim suffered this injury in the match against Bayer Leverkusen in the round of 16 of the Champions League. The "Gray Tigers" captain Vincent Kompany said the 28-year-old centre-back will be out for a few weeks.
"It's a pity that Bayern didn't know how to protect the player who led to this injury. The Korean team will have to play very important matches in the upcoming context of losing a good player.
Kim Min-jae is an extremely important factor, not only for Bayern Munich, he is also an irreplaceable person in the national team. We have been aware of this problem since last year," Hong Myung-bo told South Korean news agency Yonhap.
After Hong's criticism, Bayern Munich has not commented. This season, Kim Min-jae has played in 37/41 matches of the "Gray Tigers". He became an irreplaceable figure under the hands of captain Vincent Kompany.
Kim Min-jae has played 69 times for the national team. He played at the 2022 World Cup and the 2023 Asian Cup. The Bayern star has made 10 appearances in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers with the South Korean team. When Kim Min-jae was absent, Hong Myung-bo called up FC Seoul's central defender Kim Ju-sung to replace him.
South Korea is leading Group B of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in Asia. They have won 14 points after the first 6 matches. Son Heung-min and his teammates must finish this qualifying campaign in a Top 2 position, thereby qualifying to officially qualify for the world's biggest football festival next summer in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
In Group B, South Korea is 3 points ahead of the second-placed team, Iraq, and 5 points ahead of the third-placed team, Jordan. If they beat Jordan in the upcoming direct confrontation, South Korea will be seized with a ticket to the 2026 World Cup.
As for Bayern Munich, after defeating Leverkusen in the 1/8 round of the Champions League, the "Gray Tigers" will face Inter Milan in the quarter-finals. The first leg will take place on April 9 at the home stadium Allianz Arena. A week later, the German team will travel to Italy to visit San Siro. If she recovers quickly, Kim Min-jae can participate in the second leg.
