Cho Gue-Sung

South Korea arrive at the 2026 World Cup as familiar Asian heavyweights, drawn into Group A. Our AI model is sober about their ceiling, giving them just a 0.1% chance of lifting the trophy, a 0.5% shot at reaching the final, and a 2.8% probability of making the semi-finals. The squad has been confirmed, and the focus is firmly on a generational talent who insists his recent quiet spell is no concern, with Son reportedly saving his goals for the tournament.

The attack runs through Son Heung-Min, now at Los Angeles FC, where his 12 goals and three assists and standout 8.18 rating make him the clear talisman. Behind him, Lee Dong-Gyeong of Gimcheon Sangmu has been productive with eight goals, five assists and a 7.86 rating, while Celtic's Yang Hyun-Jun (8G, 1A, 6.92) adds energy on the flank. Genk's Oh Hyeon-Gyu offers a further attacking option with six goals and three assists. The concern is depth and Son's much-discussed scoring lull, which he has played down publicly.

From Group A, the road through the knockouts quickly stiffens against Europe's and South America's elite. Realistically, this is a team that can navigate its group and trouble most opponents on a good day, but the model sees the latter rounds as a step too far. Expect a competitive group campaign with a knockout appearance as the credible, honest target.