Big month and year coming up for Hwang Hee-chan

Wolverhampton’s Korean forward Hwang Hee-chan dribbles the ball during a Premier League match against Tottenham Hotspur in London, Sept. 27, 2025. Hwang was named to the Korean national team, Sept. 29, by head coach Hong Myung-bo for a couple of friendly games in Octbober against Brazil and Paraguay in preparation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. EPA-Yonhap

September was a decent month for the Korean national team, with a win over the United States stateside and a draw with a tough Mexican team. Over the next few weeks, there is more action in the Americas as Chile hosts the Under-20 World Cup.

The young Taeguk Warriors open against Ukraine, the team it lost to in the 2019 final, on Sunday (Seoul time), and then take on Paraguay and Panama. With the top two from each of the six groups going through, along with the four best third-placed teams, the Koreans should make it to the knockout stages.

The senior World Cup is never far from mind however, and it will certainly be on the mind of Hwang Hee-chan. With Son Heung-min departing Tottenham Hotspur for Los Angeles FC this summer, Hwang is the only Korean forward with experience in the English Premier League. The new season is not going well for Hwang and his club Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The 29-year-old has played over 100 league games for the Wolves since joining the club in 2021. Injuries and not being selected have limited his appearances. In the first five games this season so far, he played 175 minutes out of a possible 450 with the team from England’s West Midlands losing all five. Relegation is a real possibility. There were reports that he could be loaned out to Crystal Palace in London but nothing came to pass.

Hwang turns 30 in January and is no longer a young player. This is, or should be, the peak of his career, but this season he looks like he is at a crossroads. His future with the Wolves looks uncertain and even if he does become a regular starter, the club is going to face a real battle to stay in the top tier. If he is not a regular starter, then he gets the worst of both worlds. It is one thing sitting on the bench for a team that is winning but another when it is losing week after week.

Korean national men's football team head coach Hong Myung-bo attends a press conference in Seoul, Sept. 29, 2025, to announce his picks for forthcoming friendly matches against Brazil and Paraguay. Yonhap

National team coach Hong Myung-bo may not be too unhappy that Hwang is not playing every minute as he looks towards the World Cup next summer. It is possible that the forward can play enough time on the field to stay sharp but not play so much that he feels tired by next June.

Hwang was not called up for the United States and Mexico games. He has been included in Hong's picks for October’s friendly games back home against Brazil, a rematch of the second round meeting of the 2022 World Cup when the South Americans won comfortably, on Oct. 10 in Seoul and then Paraguay four days later. If nothing else, he needs time on the field and to remind his countrymen and his coach of what he can do.

Next year is going to be a crucial one for Hwang Hee-chan for both club and country.