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World Cup 3rd qualifying round clash with Palestine at 11pm on the 19th
In the last September match, they bowed their heads in a 0-0 draw.
Son Heung-min adds one goal to become the second highest scorer among Korean men
Coach Hong Myung-bo: “It will be different from the last game.”
The first match of Group B of the 2026 North and Central America World Cup Asian region 3rd qualifying round against Palestine was held at Seoul World Cup Stadium on September 5. While the Korean players all lowered their heads, Son Heung-min (Tottenham Hotspur) felt even more bitter.
The 0-0 draw against Palestine, which was considered two points down amid boos and calls for coach Hong Myung-bo to resign, was even more painful for the national team captain. Above all, I felt guilty for not being able to solve it myself. On this day, Son Heung-min had a one-on-one opportunity with the goalkeeper, but missed the timing of the shot. At the end of the game, he even beat the goalkeeper, but the shot hit the post.
At the time, Son Heung-min said, “I didn’t score even though I had many opportunities,” and “I’m sorry that I lost the opportunity that my teammates sacrificed.” “I will reflect and improve,” he said, expressing his regret.
The match against Oman followed. Son Heung-min stepped forward as a solution. With the score tied 1-1, he led Hong Myung-bo to his first win with a powerful shot in the 37th minute of the second half. After that, the national team’s high-altitude march began. They defeated Jordan, Iraq, and Kuwait in order, achieving their fourth consecutive win. Son Heung-min also scored a goal in the last game against Kuwait. At the start of the winning streak was Son Heung-min.
Approximately two months have passed since the Palestine match, and Hong Myung-bo is preparing to exact revenge on the opponent he meets again. At 11 p.m. (Korean time) on the 19th, an away match will be played against Palestine at the Amman International Stadium in Amman, Jordan, in the 6th match of Group B of the 2026 North and Central America World Cup Asia Region 3rd Qualifying Round.
Currently, Korea (13 points) is in first place in the group with 4 wins and 1 draw, including 4 consecutive wins, in the 3rd qualifying round of the World Cup. Palestine (2 points) is in 6th place with 2 draws and 3 losses. The third preliminary round reached its halfway point, and the only opponent Korea failed to beat was Palestine. On the other hand, Palestine won 1, half of its current points, over Korea.
Hong Myung-boho wants to get revenge on Palestine and cross the 7th stage of the World Cup finals. If Korea continues its winning streak, it will get closer to the World Cup finals. Since three of the remaining four games will be held at home, an early confirmation scenario can also be drawn.
For Son Heung-min, this is an opportunity to shake off the regrets of the last match against Palestine. After the game against Kuwait, Son Heung-min pledged to win, saying, “Many fans were worried because the start (in the first game against Palestine) was not good,” and “I hope that we can prepare well and decorate the last international match of the year with a victory.”
There is enough motivation. Son Heung-min scored his 50th goal in the international match against Kuwait. It was the first height reached in about 14 years since the third match of Group C of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Qatar Asian Cup against India in January 2011. Son Heung-min, who is tied for second place with Daejeon Hana Citizen coach Hwang Sun-hong for the most goals scored in Korean men’s soccer, will become sole second place if he adds one more goal. The gap with former coach Cha Bum-geun (58 goals), who ranked first, can also be narrowed.
In addition, he can set a new record for the most goals scored in A matches in a year. Son Heung-min has scored 9 goals in A matches in 2015 and this year. The stage has been set to celebrate the last A match in 2024 in a grand manner.
Meanwhile, ahead of this game, Coach Hong said, “I have prepared well as I have done so far,” and expressed his determination, “I will give up the idea of winning easily and play the game with a strong mind.” Also, recalling the draw against Palestine last time, he expressed his confidence, saying, “Our atmosphere was a bit chaotic, but we will play a better game this time,” and “We prepared to play a different game from the first game.”