Jeon Jin-woo (26, Jeonbuk Hyundai) shared his feelings about being selected for the national A team for the first time.

The Korea Football Association held a press conference on the 26th at the Korea Football Association Football Center in Sinmunno, Jongno-gu, Seoul, to announce the roster for the national football team.

The football team, led by coach Hong Myung-bo, will face Iraq in the 9th match of Group B in the 3rd round of the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 North and Central America World Cup at the Basra International Stadium in Iraq on June 6. Then, on June 10, they will take on Kuwait in the 10th match at the Seoul World Cup Stadium.

Currently, South Korea is leading Group B with 16 points (4 wins, 4 draws). Even a draw against Iraq would secure them a spot in the World Cup for the 11th consecutive time. The national team has not yet confirmed its early qualification. The two consecutive draws at home in March were significant.

Coach Hong Myung-bo announced the 26-man roster ahead of the press conference. Jeon Jin-woo's name was also included. Currently, leading the K League 1 in scoring with 10 goals, he has earned his first opportunity to wear the national team jersey. However, Joo Min-kyu (Daejeon), who had consistently been part of the national team, was excluded.

Jeon Jin-woo has experience with age-specific national teams, but this is his first selection to the A national team. He drew attention as a member of the runner-up team at the 2019 U-20 World Cup, but he did not grow as expected at Suwon Samsung.

However, Jeon Jin-woo became a different player after donning the Jeonbuk uniform last summer. He made a solid impact as soon as he joined the new team, helping ensure Jeonbuk's survival in the K League 1.

In particular, Jeon Jin-woo blossomed under coach Gus Poyet this season. He played more aggressively, focusing on scoring and netting 10 goals in 15 league matches. His movements inside the box and decision-making improved significantly, resulting in his selection for the national team.

Coach Hong Myung-bo noted, "Jeon Jin-woo is currently performing excellently in the league and maintaining good form. Early in the season, he frequently made one-on-one plays from the flanks, but recently he has been outstanding playing in the central pocket. His multi-goal performance against Anyang was all created from within the pocket. His playing style is similar to the national team tactics, so I don't anticipate any issues with adaptation. I felt that he has a lot of confidence in every play. I expect he can bring a new energy to our team."

In an interview with the Jeonbuk club, Jeon Jin-woo expressed, "It was my biggest dream to become a football player. There were times when I only focused on being selected for the national team. I still can't believe I was chosen for this glorious position. I'm excited. I feel like I will never forget this feeling."

He also added, "I checked my name several times. It was an unbelievable moment. I didn't even think about checking the names of other players. I kept verifying if this was correct upon seeing my name. I didn't see it in detail, but since they are top players, it's an honor just to be among them."

The competition in the national team's attacking lineup is fierce with players like Son Heung-min, Hwang Hee-chan, and Lee Kang-in. Jeon Jin-woo said, "There is no need to be overly ambitious or push myself harder; I need to understand my role to help the team as much as possible since I’m playing with excellent players. I want to contribute to the team's victory."

Called up for the critical World Cup final qualifiers, Jeon Jin-woo stated, "This is representing the country. It's a moment where the World Cup is at stake. I will put aside personal matters and do everything I can to help the team qualify for the World Cup."

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