'The Final Battle to Secure Pot 2'... Hong Myung-bo’s Squad, With a Weakened Midfield, Must Defeat Bolivia

[Financial News] The South Korea national football team faces their final test of 2025 against South American dark horse Bolivia and African powerhouse Republic of Ghana.
The upcoming match against Bolivia at Daejeon World Cup Stadium at 8 p.m. on the 14th is more than just a friendly. Results matter more than experimentation, and this game is a crucial turning point on the road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North and Central America.
South Korea currently sits 22nd in the FIFA World Ranking, hovering near the Pot 2 cutoff at 23rd. The results of this November’s two A-matches will affect the FIFA World Ranking announced in December, which will directly determine the team’s seeding for the World Cup group draw.
This is why head coach Hong Myung-bo has emphasized that 'results are paramount.' If the team fails to defeat Bolivia, the match against Republic of Ghana will become a do-or-die battle rather than just a crowd-pleaser. For the Korea Football Association (KFA), this match is about more than just football. After a disappointing turnout of 22,000 spectators for last month’s match against Paraguay, a strong performance and a win are now essential.

The challenge is that the situation is far from ideal. Hwang In-beom (Feyenoord Rotterdam) and Paik Seung-ho (Birmingham City Football Club), who anchored the midfield, are out with injuries. Lee Dong-gyeong (Ulsan HD Football Club) is also sidelined, forcing Hong Myung-bo’s squad to completely redraw their midfield plans.
Coach Hong admitted, 'The midfield is the most crucial area in football, and with our regular starters for the final qualifiers absent, we have to build something new.'
As a result, the upcoming match against Bolivia will serve as a real test for 'Plan B' rather than 'Plan A.' Several players, including Jens Castrop (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Kim Jin-gyu (Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors Football Club), Kwon Hyeok-kyu (FC Nantes), Won Du-jae (Khorfakkan Club), and Seo Min-woo (Gangwon FC), have emerged as candidates for midfield experimentation.

With the midfield depleted, fans are turning their attention to the front line. A major point of interest is whether Cho Gue-sung (FC Midtjylland), who returns to the national team after 1 year and 8 months due to a knee injury, will make his comeback in Daejeon.
Coach Hong cautioned, 'I hope there aren’t excessive expectations for Cho Gue-sung right now.' Still, fans’ hopes remain high. If the 'Cho Gue-sung of that day'—who scored twice against Republic of Ghana at the 2022 FIFA World Cup—returns, Hong Myung-bo’s attacking options will become much more dynamic.

Captain Son Heung-min (Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC)) is expected to be in top form. After securing a playoff quarterfinal spot with his club, he enjoyed over ten days of rest. He stated, 'I feel great physically and will show strong performances in front of our home fans.'
Bolivia, ranked 76th in the FIFA World Ranking, may seem like an underdog on paper, but they are not to be underestimated in practice. Their strength was proven when they defeated Brazil 1-0 in the final round of South American qualifiers. In particular, their fighting spirit at their home stadium, Estadio Municipal de El Alto, located at 4,100 meters above sea level, became a hot topic across South America. While veterans are absent from this away squad, a new generation of players in their early twenties, led by 21-year-old forward Enzo Monteiro (FK Auda), has been called up.

During this call-up, Coach Hong emphasized 'the completeness of the existing system over tactical novelty.' This is the essence of the two A-matches. Hong Myung-bo has already finalized most of the squad for the finals and is now fitting the last pieces into place.
The match against Bolivia is both a test of results to secure Pot 2 for the FIFA World Cup and the final rehearsal to assess the team’s readiness for the finals. Under the sky of Daejeon on the 14th, the fate of South Korean football in 2026 could hinge on whether the national team can once again prove their 'instinct as a strong team.'



jsi@fnnews.com Jeon Sang-il Reporter