SEOUL, - South Korea marked a strong start in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign with a convincing 5-0 victory over Singapore on Thursday. The match saw a diverse set of goal scorers, including Tottenham Hotspur's Son Heung-min, contributing to a balanced attack at Seoul World Cup Stadium.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the opening goal came from forward Cho Gue-sung, followed by Hwang Hee-chan's header early in the second half. Son, Hwang Ui-jo, and Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Lee Kang-in also found the net, with Lee scoring in his third consecutive match. South Korea now holds 22 wins, three draws, and two losses against Singapore in their overall meetings.
This match was the first in Group C for both teams in the second round of Asian qualification for the 2026 World Cup. South Korea's next match will be against China in Shenzhen. The team aims to extend their consecutive World Cup appearances to 11, having been a part of every tournament since 1986.
Despite dominating possession in the first half, South Korea's breakthrough came in the 44th minute with a goal by Cho, assisted by Lee Kang-in. South Korea's persistent offense could have further increased the lead but was initially hindered by near misses and a disallowed goal.
Hwang In-beom and Lee Jae-sung tested Singapore's defense early on, with Cho later hitting the crossbar. Cho's eventual goal and his assist to Hwang Hee-chan, who scored for the second consecutive international match, exemplified South Korea's offensive prowess.
Singapore briefly thought they had scored, but Shawal Anuar's effort was ruled offside. South Korea continued to dominate, with Son scoring a spectacular goal and Hwang Ui-jo converting a penalty, followed by Lee Kang-in's clinical finish.
The 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will be the first to feature 48 nations. In the Asian qualification's second round, the top two teams from each of the nine groups will advance to the third round, where they will be divided into three groups of six. The top two teams from each of these groups will qualify for the World Cup, with the third and fourth-placed teams getting another chance in the fourth round.