Lee Kang-in (PSG) responded cautiously to transfer possibilities.

The South Korea national football team, led by manager Hong Myung-bo, defeated Kuwait 4-0 in the final match of Group B of the Asian third qualifying round for the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Seoul World Cup Stadium on the evening of the 10th.

As a result, Korea finished the World Cup qualifiers unbeaten. The national team finished the second and third qualifying rounds with 11 wins and 5 draws, not suffering a single defeat. This is an achievement not seen in 16 years since the 2010 South Africa World Cup.

Korea also confirmed its qualification for the finals early. On the 6th, they won 2-0 in an away match against Iraq, marking their 11th consecutive qualification for the World Cup, a historic achievement as the first in Asia and the sixth globally. In Group B, both Korea and Jordan secured direct tickets to the World Cup.

In particular, Korea recorded 11 wins and 5 draws, including the second and third qualifying rounds, reaching the World Cup finals without a single defeat. This marks an unbeaten qualification for the first time since the 2010 South Africa World Cup and established the landmark of qualifying for the finals 11 consecutive times, the first in Asia.

Immediately after the match against Kuwait, Lee Kang-in was selected as the player of the match and spoke in an interview. He commented on the game and team atmosphere, saying, "There have been many changes. Young players started, and they really worked hard." He added, "The older players gave a lot of advice, and because of that, it seems like the juniors could play a bit more comfortably. I sincerely thank the fans.``

He continued, "In the future, the national team must continue to play good games as one. I hope we can become a team that looks in the same direction together."

As he prepares for his second World Cup, Lee Kang-in's voice carried a sense of responsibility and tension. "Every gathering is new. I always train with different players, learning new things and positively influencing each other," he emphasized. "The World Cup is approaching in a year, and that stage is truly difficult and not easy. We need to maintain our best condition and be perfectly prepared in every aspect."

Lee Kang-in added, "This is a position where not only I but nobody can guarantee participation. Every player must compete with their clubs and the national team. To make the final roster, I must continuously prove myself."

When asked to compare his current self with the World Cup in Qatar, he replied, "I couldn't participate in most of the final qualifying rounds back then and joined late. I focused on improving my condition at my club and had to seize opportunities when they arose." He explained, "Now it's different. I participated in most of the qualifiers, and sufficient communication has been established with the players and coaching staff. This will definitely help me on the World Cup stage in the future."

He spoke clearly about his dreams. Lee Kang-in, who has mentioned three dreams since childhood: "national team selection, winning the Champions League, winning the World Cup," said, "When I talked about reaching the finals and winning the U-20 World Cup, many people thought it was unrealistic. But now, having won a major tournament with PSG, I feel it is a difficult dream but not impossible."

"There will definitely be many factors to consider, but if we prepare our best as one team, we can achieve good results in the World Cup," he added. "I will not give up the dream of winning the World Cup that I have cherished since I was young. In the remaining year, I will challenge everything."

Recently, interest in Lee Kang-in's future has increased. He remarked, "I don't know what will happen in the future. Whether I stay at PSG or move to another club, I plan to always do my best, regardless of where I am. I've done that until now, and it won't be any different in the future," keeping the door open to transfer possibilities.

Lee Kang-in also mentioned the impact of recent injuries. "I was injured in March and my condition wasn't good even after returning. I couldn't play many matches, but this national team call-up has become a really precious time for me."

Finally, he cautiously but clearly expressed his stance on external criticisms related to the national team. "I know there are many criticisms directed at the coach and the association. However, we are also part of the association, and the coach is the leader of our team. If criticism increases, it puts a significant burden on the players," he noted. "If you watch positively, we can show you a better side. I ask for your support and interest."

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