Article by Adrian Duţă – Published Monday, May 25, 2026, 5:09 p.m. / Updated Monday, May 25, 2026, 5:20 p.m.
South Korea announced the squad for the 2026 World Cup, from the USA, Mexico and Canada. The Asian national team is part of group A, where they will meet the Czech Republic (June 11), Mexico (June 18) and South Africa (June 24).
Jens Castrop (22) will become the first foreign-born dual national player to represent South Korea at a World Cupafter being included by coach Hong Myung-bo in the 26-man squad for the final tournament, according to The Athletic.
Jens Castrop, straight into the history of the South Korean national team
The midfielder from Bundesliga side Borussia Monchengladbach earned the right to represent South Korea in August 2025, having previously played for the youth teams of Germany.
In the same month, he also received his first call-up, becoming, according to FIFA data, the first foreign-born player of mixed origin to play for the South Korean national team.
The midfielder, whose father is German and whose mother is Korean, has five caps for South Korea since his debut in September.
South Korea's World Cup squad includes familiar names such as Los Angeles FC forward Son Heung-min and South Korea's capped record holder Lee Kang-in of Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich defender Kim Min-jae.
South Korea's full World Cup squad:
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Goalkeepers: Jo Hyun-woo (Ulsan HD), Kim Seung-gyu (FC Tokyo), Song Bum-keun (Jeonbuk Hyundai)
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Defenders: Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich), Jo Yu-min (Sharjah), Lee Han-beom (Midtjylland), Kim Tae-hyun (Kashima Antlers), Park Jin-seop (Zhejiang FC), Lee Ki-hyeok (Gangwon FC), Lee Tae-seok (Austria Vienna), Seol Young-woo (Red Star Belgrade), Jens Castrop (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Kim Moon-hwan (Daejeon Hana)
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Midfielders: Yang Hyun-jun (Celtic), Paik Seung-ho (Birmingham City), Hwang In-beom (Feyenoord), Kim Jin-kyu (Jeonbuk Hyundai), Bae Jun-ho (Stoke City), Um Ji-sung (Swansea City), Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton), Lee Dong-gyeong (Ulsan HD), Lee Jae-sung (Mainz), Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain)
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Strikers: Oh Hyun-kyu (Besiktas), Son Heung-min (LA FC), Cho Kyu-sung (Midtjylland)
