South Korea advanced to the third round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers , after topping Group C in the previous stage. However, their journey has not been smooth, starting with the dismissal of coach Jurgen Klinsmann.
The German strategist only led the first two matches, the remaining four matches were handled by interim coaches Hwang Sun-hong and Kim Do-hoon.
Despite the turmoil, the Taegeuk Warriors showed incredible stamina and consistency, securing their place in the next round as captain Son Heung-min put in a remarkable performance, scoring seven goals for the team.
In the third qualifying round, the Korean team will be led by coach Hong Myung-bo. This is the second term of the former Korean team captain. His goal is nothing less than to bring the team to the World Cup for the 11th consecutive time.
This is within reach of Son Heung-min and his teammates. The Korean team is rated the highest in the group with the participation of Iraq, Palestine, Oman, Kuwait and Jordan. The first challenge for the Korean team will be Palestine - a team that has reached this stage for the first time.
Palestine had a difficult time qualifying for the second round. They are only 2 points ahead of Lebanon and 10 points behind leaders Australia. In their most recent match, Palestine lost to Australia 0-5.
This is the first time the Korean team has met Palestine - a meeting in the third round of the World Cup qualifiers. The home team is in good form, winning all three of their most recent matches, scoring 11 goals and conceding none.
They also have a strong attack, scoring 20 goals in the second qualifying round, a record only behind Japan (24 goals) and Australia (22 goals).
The attack line with stars playing in Europe such as Son Heung-min, Hwang Hee-chan or Lee Kang-in will be a big threat to the Palestine team.
Palestine has been in inconsistent form, winning 3, drawing 1, and losing 2 in their last 6 matches. In the rankings, the West Asian team is ranked 96th in the world, 73 places below the South Korean team.
With a large gap in skill and experience, the Korean team promises to win big against Palestine.
Score prediction: South Korea 4-0 Palestine.
