Finally a 'Full Squad of 26'... Aiming for First Consecutive Wins in Group Stage

By  Yu Byeongmin  | Jun 17, 2026

마침내 '26명 완전체'…조별리그 첫 '연승' 정조준
[Anchor]

Ahead of the second match against Mexico, our national football team has reached its "full strength" for the first time since the tournament began. Bae Jun-ho and Kim Tae-hyun, who had been sidelined due to injuries, returned to training, allowing all 26 players to participate in a full session.

Reporter Yu Byeongmin has the story.

[Reporter]

The national team was full of energy ahead of the match against Mexico.

Kim Min-jae, the anchor of the defense, drew laughter from his teammates with a comedic display.

[Kim Min-jae: I'm actually a golfer~]

Oh Hyeon-gyu even took off his shirt to reenact his comeback goal against the Czech Republic, filling the air with laughter.

[Yang Hyun-jun: (He said) it was easier to receive In-beom's crosses than mine.]

[Oh Hyeon-gyu: Hyun-jun, don't you know what I want?]

With Bae Jun-ho and Kim Tae-hyun, who had been out with injuries, joining the training three days before the Mexico match to complete the 26-man roster, the team's confidence has soared even higher.

The addition of Bae Jun-ho, a "super joker" in the attack known for his dribbling and ball-keeping skills, and Kim Tae-hyun, a left-footed center-back capable of playing both on the flank and in the center, provides more diverse options for both offense and defense.

Head coach Hong Myung-bo now faces a "happy dilemma" regarding the left side of the three-back formation, choosing between Lee Gi-hyuk, who performed brilliantly against the Czech Republic, and Kim Tae-hyun.

Uruguayan referee Tejera has been assigned as the head referee for the match against Mexico.

As Tejera makes his World Cup debut, he is known for a somewhat strict officiating style, averaging five yellow cards per match, which means our players will need to exercise caution.

(Video coverage: Hwang In-seok, Video editing: Ha Seong-won)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.