Kim Ju-sung of FC Seoul (R) attempts a header against Gimcheon Sangmu FC during the clubs’ K League 1 match at Seoul World Cup Stadium in Seoul, in this file photo from March 3, 2025. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, March 17 (Korea Bizwire) — FC Seoul defender Kim Ju-sung was picked Monday to replace injured Bayern Munich center back Kim Min-jae for South Korea’s two upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifying matches.
The Korea Football Association (KFA) made the announcement two days after cutting Kim Min-jae from the 28-man squad due to left Achilles tendinitis.
Kim Ju-sung, 24, has earned two caps so far. He was on the squad for two World Cup qualifying matches in October but did not see any action then. His most recent action for the national team came in a friendly match against Vietnam in October 2023.
Kim Ju-sung is now one of four center backs for head coach Hong Myung-bo, joining Cho Yu-min of Sharjah, Jung Seung-hyun of Al-Wasl and Kwon Kyung-won of Khor Fakkan.
South Korea will host Oman at 8 p.m. Thursday at Goyang Stadium in Goyang, just northwest of Seoul, in the first of two matches this month in the third round of the Asian qualification for the 2026 World Cup. The Taegeuk Warriors will play Jordan at 8 p.m. on March 25 at Suwon World Cup Stadium in Suwon, some 30 kilometers south of Seoul.
South Korea lead Group B in the third round with 14 points on four wins and two draws. The top two teams from each of the three groups will punch their tickets to the 2026 World Cup, and South Korea can take care of that over the next two matches at home.
(Yonhap)
