Son Heung-min

World Cup 2026 Analysis

South Korean football star Son Heung-min has recently made significant career changes and is in strong form as he looks toward what is likely his final FIFA World Cup in 2026.

Latest News:

Son Heung-min concluded a decade-long tenure with Tottenham Hotspur, making an emotional return to the club in December 2025 for a farewell during a Champions League fixture, before joining Major League Soccer (MLS) club Los Angeles FC in the summer of 2025. His move to LAFC has seen him quickly make an impact, including scoring his first MLS hat-trick. A free-kick goal he scored for LAFC against Vancouver Whitecaps in the 2025 MLS Cup Western Conference semifinals was notably ranked 9th in Fox Sports' Top 10 Goals of 2025, highlighting his continued prowess from set pieces. Additionally, there was recent news regarding his father and brother being fined for violations of child welfare laws related to a football school.

Form:

Now at 33 years old (born July 8, 1992), Son Heung-min is demonstrating strong form with Los Angeles FC. In just 13 MLS appearances, including playoffs, he has registered an impressive 12 goals and 3 assists. His free-kick abilities, in particular, remain a significant weapon, as evidenced by his highly-ranked goal and his record of seven free-kick goals for the South Korean national team. While earlier in 2025 there were discussions about his age potentially impacting his consistent starting role at Tottenham, his current performance in the MLS indicates he is a top player for LAFC.

2026 World Cup Outlook:

South Korea has successfully qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, marking their 11th consecutive appearance in the tournament. They achieved this by topping their groups in the Asian qualifiers' Round Two and Round Three, maintaining an undefeated record. Son Heung-min was a pivotal figure in their qualification campaign, leading the team with 10 goals.

For the 2026 World Cup, South Korea has been drawn into Group A, where they will face Mexico, South Africa, and the winner of UEFA Playoff D. This upcoming tournament will be Son's fourth World Cup appearance, and it is widely anticipated to be his final one given his age. He remains the "greatest center of gravity" for the national team, and South Korea's performance is highly rated when he is on the field. Son has publicly urged the South Korean team to adopt a more aggressive mindset and not show excessive respect to stronger opponents, emphasizing the need to "fight back" against formidable teams.