A special guest will attend the final match of the World Cup third qualifying round for the South Korean national team.
The football team, led by head coach Hong Myung-bo, will face Kuwait in the 10th match of Group B in the final round of the Asian region's third qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be held at the Seoul World Cup Stadium in Seongsan-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, at 8 p.m. on the 10th.
South Korea already secured a 2-0 victory against Iraq in the away match on the 6th with consecutive goals from Kim Jin-kyu and Oh Hyun-kyu, confirming a minimum of second place in their group with five wins and four draws (19 points), early securing their 11th consecutive advancement to the World Cup finals. This match is expected to be a festive occasion for the national team, which has confirmed its spot in the finals, to share the joy with home fans.
Hong Myung-bo noted that he would test some newcomers in this match, focusing on checking the new faces of the national team and boosting the atmosphere rather than on the match itself. He expressed his anticipation, saying, "We will have a meaningful match to celebrate our advancement to the finals in front of our home fans."
Attention is particularly on whether Son Heung-min will play. The team's captain, Son Heung-min, missed the Iraq match due to a foot injury. After forcing his appearance in the Europa League for Tottenham, he is currently working on improving his condition. Coach Hong explained, "Son Heung-min is in a condition to play. We will decide on the day after the final training session," noting that he is likely to either start and play only the first half or come on as a substitute in the second half.
Meanwhile, another highlight of the match will be the Coupang Play preview show that will take place beforehand. The live preview show, starting at 7 p.m., will feature former Manchester United legend defender Patrice Evra, who will energize the atmosphere with his unique charisma and energy.
The preview show featuring Lee Geun-ho, commentator Han Jun-hee, and caster Yoon Jang-hyun is expected to vividly convey the excitement of the venue even before the match, as Evra shows a special affection for Korean football and culture, drawing fans' anticipation with his 'national bra' charm.
After the match, the signature content of Coupang Play, 'Ending Song,' will also await. In the previous match against Iraq, the song 'ELEVEN' by the group IVE was chosen, which stirred interest by conveying the significance of advancing to the finals for the 11th consecutive time. Fans are highly interested in what song will decorate the ending this time.
The Korea-Kuwait match will be broadcast live through Coupang Play, and various content will be available for fans even before the match.
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