Seoul: Son Heung-min has made a return to the South Korean men’s national football team for the upcoming World Cup qualifying matches scheduled for later this month. Head coach Hong Myung-bo revealed the 26-man squad on Monday as the team gears up for two significant away matches in the third round of the Asian World Cup qualification tournament.

According to Yonhap News Agency, South Korea will face Kuwait in Kuwait City on November 14, followed by a match against Palestine in Amman, Jordan, on November 19. The latter match will be held at a neutral venue due to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, which has necessitated Palestine playing all home matches at neutral sites for the time being. South Korea currently leads Group B with 10 points, having secured three wins and a draw, positioning them three points ahead of both Jordan and Iraq, with six matches left to play.

Son was absent from the squad for the October matches due to a hamstring injury but has since returned to action. In his absence, South Kore
a managed to defeat Jordan 2-0 and Iraq 3-2. Son returned to club duties with Tottenham Hotspur, playing in their 4-1 victory over Aston Villa in the Premier League, marking his first match since October 19 after missing seven of the last eight matches.

The Asian World Cup qualification tournament’s third round comprises three groups of six teams, with the top two from each group earning direct entry to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Teams finishing in third and fourth positions will advance to the fourth round. South Korea has a strong World Cup history, having participated in every tournament since 1986.