South Korea's defense will need to make do without their defending center-back of the year Kim Min-jae in the next 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Iraq and Kuwait. The Bayern Munich defender has been omitted because of an ongoing Achilles tendon injury, and this is a big blow to the country's campaign.
The injury first appeared last October in a Bundesliga encounter against Eintracht Frankfurt. Even though he played in pain for months, the issue has now developed further, compelling Kim to miss the important June games. The Korean Football Association confirmed the report, saying that adequate rest and recovery are important at this point.
Bayern Munich's head coach, Vincent Kompany, confirmed the situation, stating that Kim will take several weeks to recover fully. Bayern Munich's medical team is monitoring his recovery closely, with hopes to have him available for the Club World Cup later in the year. Kompany emphasized that Kim's long-term fitness is more important than hurrying him back onto the field.
But South Korea head coach Hong Myung-bo was not pleased. He blamed Bayern Munich for overworking Kim, claiming the extra workload exacerbated the injury. Hong insisted that European clubs should be more careful with players who are crucial to their national teams. Though disappointed, he acknowledged the team has to adjust in a hurry, with defenders such as Cho Yu-min, Jung Seung-hyun, and Kwon Kyung-won filling in for Kim.
Now top of Group B with a perfect record, South Korea is well placed. But without a leader such as Kim, a solid defender and steadying influence, the next fixtures are more difficult to face. His absence serves to bring into focus the perpetual fight players are involved in between club and country, particularly when injuries hit.
Now it's the rest of the team's turn to step up. The aspiration to get an early World Cup ticket remains possible, but the road is a bit more difficult now.
REFERENCES
- https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/sports/20250315/injured-defender-kim-min-jae-cut-from-koreas-natl-team-ahead-of-world-cup-qualifiers
- https://www.si.com/onsi/soccer/bayern-munich/international/south-korea-head-coach-blasts-bayern-munich-over-kim-min-jae-injury
-Reported by Rimi Majumder
Intern: at The Korean Academy
Korean Analysis and Reporting
