South Korea’s most recognizable footballer, Son Heung-min, will wear the captain’s armband at the FIFA World Cup 2024 in Germany. The Tottenham Hotspur striker, 31, becomes the first Asian player to captain his country at four World Cups. Son has scored 23 international goals, the most by any South Korean player in history.

Son’s appointment was confirmed by the Korea Football Association on Monday. He will lead a squad featuring players from Europe’s top leagues, including Son Jun-ho from VfB Stuttgart and Lee Kang-in from Paris Saint-Germain. South Korea opens its campaign against Portugal on June 14 in Group E.

Son’s World Cup record

Son has played in every World Cup since 2014, when he scored against Russia and Algeria in the group stage. He captained South Korea at the 2018 and 2022 editions, leading them to the Round of 16 in 2018. At Qatar 2022, Son scored two goals in the group stage before injury cut short his tournament.

South Korea reached the knockout rounds in 2010 and 2014 but fell in the Round of 16 in both. The 2024 squad, built around Son’s leadership, aims to surpass those results. Coach Jürgen Klinsmann has emphasized defensive structure while relying on Son’s creativity and scoring ability.

European-based core

Son’s club form at Tottenham has remained strong. He scored 17 goals in the Premier League last season and was named club captain in 2019. His international partnership with Cho Gue-sung of Gwangju FC provides depth in attack. The squad includes 10 players based in Europe, reflecting the growing pathway for South Korean talent abroad.

South Korea’s World Cup preparation includes friendlies against Wales and Brazil in March. The team trains in Dubai ahead of the tournament, where fans expect Son to deliver his best performance yet on football’s biggest stage.

The 2024 World Cup begins on June 11. South Korea faces Portugal, France and Ghana in Group E. Son’s leadership will be tested early against a Portuguese side featuring Cristiano Ronaldo.

What You Need to Know

  • Source: BBC Sport
  • Published: May 16, 2026 at 08:44 UTC
  • Category: Sports
  • Topics: #bbc · #sports · #football · #world-cup · #south-korea · #tottenham-hotspur

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Curated by GlobalBR News · May 16, 2026

🇧🇷 Resumo em Português

O craque Son Heung-min não apenas brilha nos gramados da Premier League, como também será o líder da Coreia do Sul em sua quarta participação em Copas do Mundo, consolidando seu nome como um dos maiores ídolos esportivos do país asiático. A confirmação do Tottenham Hotspur como capitão da seleção sul-coreana para o Mundial de 2024, que começa em junho, reforça não só sua importância técnica, mas também seu papel como símbolo de união e inspiração para milhões de fãs, inclusive no Brasil.

Com 23 gols pela seleção, Son Heung-min já entrou para a história do futebol coreano como um dos maiores artilheiros e um exemplo de profissionalismo, tendo disputado as Copas de 2014, 2018 e 2022. Para o Brasil, a presença de um jogador como ele em uma competição global desperta curiosidade, já que muitos torcedores brasileiros acompanham o futebol europeu e reconhecem sua qualidade técnica. Além disso, a Coreia do Sul sempre foi uma das seleções asiáticas mais competitivas, capaz de surpreender em Copas, como fez ao eliminar a Alemanha em 2018, o que reforça a expectativa por um novo desempenho histórico.

Se Son Heung-min liderar a Coreia do Sul rumo a uma inédita classificação às oitavas de final, o camisa 7 não só entrará ainda mais para a lenda do futebol mundial, como também poderá inspirar uma nova geração de jogadores na Ásia.