Son Heung-min (Tottenham), the captain and troubleshooter of “Hong Myung-bo,” will challenge two records in this year’s last A-match with Palestine. If he adds one goal, he will become the only second-ranked player in the Korean men’s A-match scoring, surpassing Hwang Sun-hong, and achieve double-digit scores in an individual year for the first time.
The national soccer team, led by head coach Hong Myung-bo, moved to Amman, Jordan, on a chartered plane from Kuwait on the 18th (Korea time). After conducting adaptation training at Amman International Stadium, the team will play the sixth Group B match of the third Asian qualifying round for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North Korea and China against Palestine at 11 p.m. on the 19th.
The last A match this year, the match against Palestine, is a must-see match to advance to the World Cup finals for the 11th consecutive time.
South Korea, which beat Kuwait 3-1 on the 14th and won four consecutive games, is the lone leader in Group B (4 wins, 1 draw, 13 points). It is five points ahead of second-place Jordan and third-place Iraq (eight points or more), and depending on the results of the sixth round of the third qualifying round, it can extend its distance from third-place in the group to a maximum of seven points.
Hong Myung-bo, who is on a roll, is determined to catch even Palestine and sweep two consecutive A-match away games in the Middle East in November to achieve a successful ending.
In particular, South Korea lost face by drawing 0-0 with Palestine at the Seoul World Cup Stadium on September 5. Son Heung-min is aiming for a cool victory against Palestine, which they met again in two months, and he will take the lead in offense.
Son Heung-min, who has recovered from a thigh injury and wore the national team uniform for the first time in two months, showed off his robustness with light movements and threatening dribbles in the match against Kuwait. He also scored through penalty kicks in the 19th minute of the first half, becoming the third player to score 50 goals in men’s A matches after Cha Bum-keun (58 goals) and Hwang Sun-hong (50 goals).
“My physical condition is good now. I am back to my normal condition. I will maintain my good condition and show 100 percent of my performance in the next match,” Son told a broadcaster after the match against Kuwait.
If Son Heung-min succeeds in scoring in the match against Palestine with momentum, he can set two records.
Son will first have his 51st career goal, surpassing Hwang to rank second overall in men’s A matches. Son, who has scored nine A-match goals this year, can achieve double-digit goals in a single A match for the first time as an individual. 메이저놀이터
Son has debt to repay against the Palestinians. In the first match of the third qualifying round, he beat the goalie at the 42nd minute in the second half to secure a perfect goal, but his right footed shot hit the post. Missing this last chance, Son and the Taegeuk Warriors ended up hurting their pride.
The opportunity to avenge this came for the first time in two months. For Son Heung-min, it will be the best finish if he wins the last A-match of this year with his own goal and achieves a meaningful record.