▲ Hwang Hee-chan of the South Korean national football team competing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup answers questions during a press conference ahead of a training session at Chivas Valle Verde in Zapopan near Guadalajara, Mexico, on June 8 (local time).
Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton), who teamed up with Son Heung-min (LAFC) in Qatar four years ago to score the goal that secured South Korea's second-ever round of 16 advancement in an away World Cup, vowed to recreate such a moment at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
For Hwang, the 2022 Qatar World Cup remains an unforgettable stage.
South Korea, which was on the verge of elimination in the group stage, was brought back to life with a dramatic comeback winning goal in second-half stoppage time during their third match against Portugal.
In a counterattack situation, Hwang received a pass from Son and netted the winning goal.
Despite being surrounded by several defenders, Son exquisitely found a passing lane between them, and Hwang shook the net with a first-time right-footed shot.
Thanks to this goal, South Korea advanced to the round of 16 as the runner-up of their group.
It was the country's second-ever round of 16 advancement in an away World Cup, following the 2010 tournament in South Africa.
During a press conference held today (KST) at the national team's training ground at Chivas Valle Verde in Zapopan near Guadalajara, Mexico, Hwang said, "Of course, if such a scene happens again, it would be a wonderful situation for me, our team, and our country."
He added, "We are communicating a lot and preparing hard even now (with Son) for such moments. We are preparing to create more of them, so I will try my best to show them in every match."
For Hwang, who is entering his third World Cup, this tournament is particularly special.
This is because his close friends born in 1996, including Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich) and Hwang In-beom (Feyenoord), are entering the tournament in their prime.
Hwang said, "We have been close since we were very young, and we communicate about everything," but added, "This is not a World Cup just for the three of us, but a special World Cup for everyone on the team."
He continued, "We still seem to play a bridging role between the veteran players and the younger ones. We are communicating well in the middle so that the younger players can feel more comfortable and get along well with the older players."
The decisive battle is now just three days away.
The national team will play its first Group A match of the World Cup group stage against the Czech Republic at Guadalajara Stadium on June 12 at 11 a.m. (KST).
When asked about his physical condition, Hwang gave a short and strong reply: "Nothing hurts, and I feel great."
He went on to vow, "While the outcome of every match is important, the first match is especially crucial. I believe we did well in the first match of the Qatar World Cup (a 0-0 draw with Uruguay), which set a good tone for the next games. I will do my best to create as many good moments as possible in the first match."
Regarding the setback of his club Wolverhampton's relegation to the English Championship (second tier), Hwang said, "I don't think that I need to perform well in the national team just to secure a transfer. Whenever I join the national team, I play with a selfless mindset."
Following the previous day, the national team opened only the first 15 minutes of training to the media on this day before firmly locking the gates.
All players participated in the training session except for Bae Jun-ho (Stoke City), who suffered an ankle injury from a deep tackle during a friendly match against Trinidad and Tobago.
(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.