Lee Kang-in heads to the UCL final, while the empty attacking midfield spots spark endless competition... Who will seize the spotlight against Trinidad and Tobago? [2026 FIFA World Cup]

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[The Financial News] The die has been cast, and now it is time for action. With the 2026 FIFA World Cup just ahead, the South Korea national football team under Hong Myung-bo is finally sounding the bell for the first period of its final rehearsal. There is no need to be disappointed by the opponent's reputation. The purpose of this sparring match is not to overpower the other side, but to sharpen Korea's own weapons in an environment where every breath feels like a struggle.
The South Korea national football team, led by Hong Myung-bo, will play a friendly against FIFA world No. 102 Trinidad and Tobago at 10 a.m. on the 31st Korea time at South Field at Brigham Young University (BYU) in Salt Lake City, Utah. It is a carefully planned tactical test held at 1,460 meters above sea level, a setting that closely mirrors Guadalajara, Mexico, the base camp for the first and second group-stage matches at 1,500 meters.
The biggest talking point for this friendly is undoubtedly the endless competition for the attacking midfield positions. Lee Kang-in of Paris Saint-Germain, the team's current ace, will not join until around June 2 because he is busy with the UEFA Champions League final.
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Lee Kang-in's temporary absence has, paradoxically, become a spark for other players. Lee Dong-gyeong of Ulsan, who joined early and has fully adjusted to the altitude, along with Bae Jun-ho of Stoke City and Eom Ji-sung of Swansea City, who have built up experience in England, are sharpening their blades to catch Hong's eye. The key question is how much creative force these players, long overshadowed by a reliable core member, can show in Lee Kang-in's absence.
The midfield combination, which was troubled in March when Hwang In-beom of Feyenoord was sidelined by injury, is also under review. If Hwang, who has recovered from injury and recently joined the pre-camp, fits into the starting lineup, the focus will be on who Hong chooses as his partner. From Kim Jin-gyu of Jeonbuk and Paik Seung-ho of Birmingham City F.C. to versatile options Park Jin-seob of Zhejiang and Lee Ki-hyuk of Gangwon FC, the bench has plenty to think about. Still, with the World Cup so close, the emphasis is likely to be on testing the midfield coordination of the partner candidates rather than overworking Hwang, who has only just returned from injury.
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The match will also offer a hint of the three-back system Hong has been carefully developing. It will show how to use Jens Castrop, the mixed-heritage Taegeuk Warrior who has blossomed as a wingback this season at Borussia Mönchengladbach. Castrop's wingback test, which was derailed by injury in March, is now likely to be put into full use against a weaker opponent. His ability to influence both the flank and the center at once could be the key to improving the completeness of Hong Myung-bo's three-back system.
Although the stadium holds only 4,000 seats, the enthusiasm of Korean expatriates in the United States is already on par with a World Cup match. Tickets sold out almost instantly after sales opened, raising expectations for a strong red wall in the stands.
Hong Myung-bo had pushed back against criticism by saying that "if we played in another region, we could face a stronger opponent, but a friendly that is not about adapting to altitude is inefficient." Now, as the tactical seeds planted by his stubborn conviction begin to sprout, football fans are turning their eyes to the blue pitch in Utah to see what concrete results will emerge in the first real test against Trinidad and Tobago.
jsi@fnnews.com Jeon Sang-il Reporter