Korea Republic men’s national team got off to a winning start to their qualifying campaign for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Jürgen Klinsmann’s charges claimed a comprehensive 5-0 victory against Singapore at Seoul World Cup Stadium on Thursday, as the Taegeuk Warriors took control in Group C in the second round of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Cho Guesung opened the scoring on the stroke of half time, before Hwang Heechan, Son Heungmin, Hwang Uijo and Lee Kangin found the net in front of 64,381 fans at the stadium. Korea Republic are set to take on China PR on the road next Tuesday.

Korea Republic have been pitted against Singapore, China PR and Thailand in Group C of the second round, where 36 participating teams are divided into nine groups of four teams. Top two teams from each group advance to the third round, with a total of 18 teams competing for their places in the final round.

A trio of Korea Republic stars – Son Heungmin, Lee Kangin and Kim Minjae – all started alongside one another in this match. Son led the attack with Cho Guesung up front; Hwang Inbeom and Lee Jaesung in the middle of the park; Hwang Heechan and Lee Kangin on the flanks; Lee Kije, Kim Minjae, Jung Seunghyun and Seol Youngwoo at the back; and Kim Seunggyu between the sticks.

The hosts surged forward from the outset but struggled to find the net against the stubborn Singapore rearguard that virtually consisted of ten players. It was an uphill task for the men in red to break into the area, although Hwang Inbeom did manage to attempt an audacious effort after ten minutes.

Having opened his international account last month, Lee Kangin orchestrated the attack and pulled the strings whilst exchanging positions with Hwang Heechan across the flanks. Lee Kangin sent an inviting cross to Cho Guesung, who nodded the ball into the path of an onrushing Lee Jaesung, whose point blank effort was denied by Hassan Abdullah Sunny.

However, the hosts kept on knocking the door until it was finally open on the stroke of half time. Lee Kangin found Cho Guesung lurking into the left side of the area, and the No9 made no mistake with only the keeper to beat.

It took only five minutes for the hosts to double their advantage after the interval, with Hwang Heechan glancing a header off Cho Guesung’s cross from the right. Lee Kangin had caused havoc on the right channel by dribbling through two defenders, before Cho connected with the loose ball.

Korea Republic did not rest on the two-goal cushion. Captain Son Heungmin dribbled into his zone to curl an unstoppable into top corner three minutes after the hour mark, before substitute Hwang Uijo made it 4-0 from the spot.

Klinsmann responded by resting his key players as no fewer than five substitutes came off the bench midway through the second half. Hwang Uijo and Oh Hyeongyu led the attack up front, with Son stepping down to fill the attacking midfielder role.

Korea Republic kept up the pressure after the reshuffle, with Lee Kangin completing the goal fest with a powerful effort to score his third goal in as many matches for his country.

Asian Qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup

Second Round

Group C

Korea Republic 5-0 Singapore

Goals: Cho Guesung 45’, Hwang Heechan 49’, Son Heungmin 63’, Hwang Uijo 68’ (pen), Lee Kangin 85’

KOR: Kim Seunggyu, Lee Kije (Kim Jinsu 64’), Kim Minjae, Jung Seunghyu, Seol Youngwoo, Hwang Heechan (Oh Hyeongyu 70’), Hwang Inbeom (Lee Soonmin 70’), Lee Jaesung (Jeong Wooyeong 64’), Lee Kangin, Cho Guesung (Hwang Uijo 64’), Son Heungmin