Lee Seung-woo (26, Jeonbuk Hyundai), once known as the “Korean Messi,” has finally joined the national team.
The national soccer team led by Coach Hong Myung-bo will play its home game against Iraq in the fourth round of the third Asian qualifying round for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North Korea and China on Saturday. Prior to this, the national soccer team conducted training sessions at the Yongin Mir Stadium, where the match will be held.
Lee Seung-woo, who returned to the national team for the first time in a long time before official training, met with reporters. The last time he wore a national team uniform was a friendly match against Iran in June 2019, so it was his first comeback in five years and four months.
“I didn’t know it had been this long, but I was also very surprised. The uniforms of the national team have changed, and the training uniforms have changed a lot. The players seem to have remained the same, but clothes, staff and environment have changed a lot,” he said, talking about what has changed so far.
On the eve of the announcement, he heard that he had been substituted along with teammates Moon Seon-min (32) due to injuries to Hwang Hee-chan (28) and Um Ji-sung (22). “I came here unexpectedly. I came here by train the next morning after hearing the news the previous evening, but I didn’t have a ticket, so I came to the standing room. I came to the standing room, but I paid for it,” a smiling Lee Seung-woo said, “I don’t think the fans recognized me as I crouched down with (Moon) Sun-min at the very end. I came here for more than an hour sitting in our luggage.”
He had matured for more than five years since he had no chance to play with the national team. It was a different atmosphere from the bold interview he had previously had. “It would be best if I could participate, but even if that is not the case, I would like to make many good memories in this team,” he said, looking forward to his long-cherished time with the national team.
As for the atmosphere of the team, he said, “It’s so nice. Of course, I’m disappointed that there are injured players, but the atmosphere is good among the players,” and added, “I was so comfortable because I’ve seen them a lot during the off-season as well. I feel like it’s not been five years, and I was so grateful that everyone welcomed me and congratulated me.” 스포츠토토
Now that he has been selected as a member of the national team, his goal is to play. Asked what kind of performance he would like to show in the game, he said, “I want to do my best. It’s been a long time since I came here and I’ve been waiting for this time, so I want to prepare well and show everything I can show.”
Although he participated in the qualifying round for the North-China World Cup, the word “North Korea-China World Cup” was not in his head yet. “I didn’t have time to think about the World Cup because it’s been five years since I came here,” Lee said with a smile. “I trained and built up my body thinking that I would be able to do something as it goes, and I came to a special place after a long time, but I’ve never thought about North Korea-China World Cup.”