Korea’s World Cup opponents have problems of their own

FC Copenhagen's Mexican defender Rodrigo Huescas is carried off the field on a stretcher after suffering an injury during the UEFA Champions League football match between Qarabag FK and FC Copenhagen at the Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium in Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 1, 2025. AFP-Yonhap

There are now less than two months until South Korea plays its opening game at the 2026 World Cup against the Czech Republic. Much has been written about the situation that the team finds itself in — the uncertain form, the two defeats in March that ended 4-0 against Ivory Coast and 1-0 to Austria, and the criticism of head coach Hong Myung-bo.

The injury to influential midfielder Hwang In-beom does not help either. Captain Son Heung-min does not look like the player who terrorized defenses in the English Premier League and Europe in recent years, the talented Lee Kang-in does not get as many minutes as he — or coach Hong — would like for Paris Saint-Germain, and it is rumored that star defender Kim Min-jae could be leaving Bayern Munich in the summer.

However, every country has its issues. Mexico is the co-host and is expected by most to win the group. Yet El Tri has a few injuries to deal with. Right back Julian Araujo is going to miss the rest of Celtic’s Scottish league season after picking up an injury. Goalkeeper Luis Angel Malagon is not going to make it after tearing his achilles. Other players such as Edson Alvarez, Rodrigo Huescas and Cesar Huerta have also had injuries. It means that there is much for coach Javier Aguirre, once in charge of Japan, to think about.

Since Mexico’s 2-2 draw with South Korea in a friendly last September, results have been up and down. There have been defeats to Colombia and Paraguay and victories over Iceland and Panama, along with a number of draws. Mexico fans have plenty to worry about. This is the team’s best chance to reach the quarterfinals of a World Cup since the country last hosted the tournament in 1986, but preparations could be better.

The opening game for Korea is against the Czech Republic, which squeezed through the European playoffs by the narrowest of margins, beating both Ireland and Denmark on penalties. Before that came a loss against the Faroe Islands.

It is not the hardest of first matches. One of the team’s stars is Pavel Sulc. The attacking midfielder has been a star in France this season with Lyon and is expected to head to the English Premier League this summer, but has been out of action with a hamstring problem. He should recover by June, but may not be as fit and sharp as he could be.

The final group stage clash is against South Africa, regarded as the weakest team in the group — a conclusion drawn from their FIFA ranking of 60, a full 35 below Korea. Bafana Bafana have issues of their own. Influential defender Siyabonga Ngezana is battling to be fit for the tournament, while the team lost to both Cameroon and Panama earlier this year.

So none of the opponents in Group A are in perfect shape. Korea may not have been impressive for a while — there are lingering doubts over the tactical ability and motivational skills of coach Hong, as well as a possible injury or two — but it could be argued that the Taegeuk Warriors are not looking that bad in comparison.