Hong Myung-bo's Squad Secures Pot 2 for Now... What Remains Is Revenge Against Ghana and Confidence for the Finals

[Financial News] Korean football has overcome a major hurdle ahead of the group draw for the North and Central America FIFA World Cup finals.
The FIFA World Ranking, announced on the 17th, saw Korea rise one spot to 22nd, signaling a green light for maintaining Pot 2 status in the December finals draw. In addition, with Hong Myung-bo’s national team set to face the Plurinational State of Bolivia from South America and the formidable Republic of Ghana from Africa in November friendlies, a true test for the World Cup awaits.
In the men’s FIFA World Ranking released by FIFA on the 17th (Korean time), Korea climbed to 22nd, up one place from September. The ranking points increased by 0.73 to 1593.92. After holding 23rd last month, Korea returned to 22nd for the first time in a year since October 2024.

This single-step rise is more than a mere numerical change. The Pot allocation, which will determine the fate of each nation in the 2026 North and Central America FIFA World Cup group draw in December, is based on the November FIFA World Ranking. The three host nations—United States (16th), Mexico (14th), and Canada (28th)—along with the top nine ranked teams, will be placed in Pot 1, while teams ranked 10th to 23rd will be assigned to Pot 2.
In other words, dropping below 23rd increases the likelihood of being grouped with powerhouses in the FIFA World Cup finals draw.
For the Korea Football Association (KFA) and the national team, who have aimed to remain in Pot 2, this single-rank rise is both risk management and a lifeline for their finals strategy. Although Hong Myung-bo's squad suffered a 0-5 defeat to Brazil in the October A match, they rebounded by beating Paraguay 2-0. The FIFA World Ranking system considers not only match results but also the opponent’s ranking, match importance, and regional weighting.
Among Asian countries, Korea ranks third behind Japan (19th) and Iran (21st). Australia (25th) and State of Qatar (52nd) follow, solidifying Korea’s status as one of Asia’s top three football powers.

On the 16th, the Korea Football Association officially announced, “The opponents for the national team’s November friendlies have been confirmed.” Hong Myung-bo’s squad will face the Plurinational State of Bolivia (76th) on November 14 and the Republic of Ghana (73rd) on November 18. The venues and kickoff times will be announced later.
The Plurinational State of Bolivia pulled off an upset by defeating Brazil 1-0 in the final South American qualifier for the 2026 North and Central America FIFA World Cup. Finishing seventh overall in the qualifiers, they advanced to the intercontinental playoffs and still have hopes for a finals ticket. Korea leads the head-to-head record against the Plurinational State of Bolivia with one win and two draws.
The second opponent is the Republic of Ghana, a name that holds special significance for Korean football fans. It was this team that Korea lost to 2-3 in a dramatic comeback during the second group match of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in State of Qatar. The memorable duel between Cho Gue-sung and Mohammed Kudus remains vivid. The upcoming November match is highly symbolic as a 'revenge match.'
The Republic of Ghana recently secured first place in their group in the 2026 FIFA World Cup African qualifiers by defeating Comoros, with a record of eight wins, one draw, and one loss, totaling 25 points. Their robust midfield and the physical, high-pressing style typical of African football remain a threat. In their head-to-head record, the Republic of Ghana leads Korea with four wins and three losses.

The two November friendlies are the last A matches before the FIFA World Cup finals group draw, and the November FIFA World Ranking will serve as the basis for Pot allocation. A single match result could change the fate of the draw. For coach Hong Myung-bo, the final tasks are to secure Pot 2 and further refine the team’s tactics.


jsi@fnnews.com Jeon Sang-il Reporter