Yang Min-hyuk (Gangwon FC), an 18-year-old high school student prospect who will play for K League 1 Gangwon FC until this season and then move on to Tottenham in the English Premier League (EPL) this winter, will meet “senior” Son Heung-min (32, Tottenham) first in the national team.
The Korea Football Association (KFA) announced the list of A-team players who will play in two A-match games in September at 11 a.m. on Wednesday at the Korea Football Association in central Seoul. Winger Yang Min-hyuk is on the 26-member roster.
The Korean national soccer team will play the first match of the third qualifying round for the 2026 FIFA World Cup North-China at Seoul World Cup Stadium at 8 p.m. on Sept. 5. The team will then play the second away match against Oman at Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Muscat, Oman, at 11 p.m. on Sept. 10.
The match against Palestine is a return match for Hong Myung-bo, who returned as the head coach of the A national team for the first time in 10 years after resigning in July 2014.
Coach Hong Myung-bo, who led Ulsan HD from 2021, coached the best domestic players in the K-League and faced the opposite, selected three new K-League players.
The main characters are Hwang Moon-ki (28), a wingback and midfielder who is leading Gangwon’s sensation along with Yang Min-hyuk, and Choi Woo-jin (Incheon United), a wingback born in 2004. Lee Han-bum (Mit Willan), a center back who plays in Denmark, also joined the A-team for the first time.
Yang Min-hyuk, a “hit product” in the K-League, is expected to join the team this season. He has scored eight goals and five assists, spearheading Gangwon’s leading run. He also signed a contract with Tottenham Hotspur of the EPL last month.
Yang Min-hyuk set various new records in 2024, including the youngest multi-goal in the K-League, the youngest double-digit attack point, the selection of the best 11 rounds of high school players, the first round MVP, and the first three consecutive K-League Young Player of the Month.
Coach Hong Myung-bo said, “I think it is right to give Yang a chance now. He has shown enough performances to make the national team. Although he has lost form a little bit compared to his best July, I think he deserves to be on the national team.”
He added, “Afterwards, the opportunity depends on Yang Min-hyuk’s role. Everyone has high expectations now, so I hope he will do well even when he comes to the national team.”
At the age of 18 years and 132 days, Yang became the youngest player to join the national team. He joined the A-team faster than Son Heung-min, who was selected for the first time in December 2010 at the age of 18 years and 152 days.
Yang Min-hyuk said, “I am very honored. I would like to thank everyone who helped and supported me to make my name on the national team, including coaching staff, fans, and teammates.”
“As it represents my country, I will work harder with responsibility. 안전놀이터 I will also try to show good performances in the stadium,” he added.
Yang Min-hyuk, who will join Tottenham after the end of the season, will first join the national team with Son Heung-min, a “grand senior.” The two players have faced off once in a showdown between Tottenham and Team K League at Seoul World Cup Stadium on July 31.