South Korea has officially booked its spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, extending its remarkable streak to 11 consecutive appearances on football’s biggest stage — a feat even global heavyweights like England and France have yet to achieve.
Led by head coach Hong Myung-bo, the Taeguk Warriors sealed qualification with a 2-0 win over Iraq on June 6 in a hostile road environment at Basra International Stadium. Kim Jin-gyu opened the scoring in the 63rd minute, and Oh Hyeon-gyu added a late dagger in the 82nd to put the result beyond doubt.
Kickoff was delayed until 9:15 p.m. local time to avoid the scorching Iraqi sun, but the teams still battled through sweltering conditions with temperatures hovering above 30°C (86°F) at game time. Earlier in the day, the mercury hit 45°C (113°F).
South Korea took control from the opening whistle and caught a break in the 25th minute when Iraq’s Ali Al-Hamadi was sent off for a high boot to Cho Yu-min’s face. Playing a man up, Korea patiently broke Iraq down before second-half substitute Kim buried a low finish off a calm assist from Lee Kang-in.
Debutant Jeon Jin-woo made an instant impact after coming off the bench, playing a smart ball into the box for Oh Hyeon-gyu, who slotted it home to secure the victory.
With five wins and four draws in Group B, Korea has 19 points and a seven-point lead over third-place Iraq (12 points), clinching one of the top two spots and an automatic berth in the World Cup. Even with one match remaining — a June 10 home fixture against Kuwait — the job is done.
The qualification marks Korea’s 12th overall World Cup appearance and its 11th in a row dating back to the 1986 tournament in Mexico — a run no other Asian team has matched. Only six countries in football history have made 11 or more consecutive World Cups: Brazil (22), Germany (18), Italy (14), Argentina (13), Spain (12), and now South Korea.
For comparison, England and France — both 16-time qualifiers — have never managed more than seven consecutive trips to the World Cup.
South Korea made its tournament debut in 1954 in Switzerland. The team currently sits at No. 23 in the FIFA World Rankings, behind Japan (15th) and Iran (18th) among Asian nations.
