Bae Jun-ho (22, Stoke City), who recorded two assists and had a strong performance, talked about joining the A national team.
The Republic of Korea national soccer team, led by coach Hong Myung-bo, faced Kuwait in the 10th match of Group B in the final qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup Asia Region, held at the Seoul World Cup Stadium on the 10th, winning decisively by 4-0.
With this victory, Korea achieved 22 points (6 wins, 4 draws) and completed the final qualifiers without any losses.
Korea had already secured its place in the World Cup with 5 wins and 4 draws (19 points) after winning 2-0 against Iraq away on the 6th, thanks to consecutive goals from Kim Jin-kyu and Oh Hyun-kyu, confirming at least second place in the group and ensuring an appearance in the World Cup finals for the 11th consecutive time. This match ended with a 4-0 victory, making it a festive occasion for the players to share their joy with home fans.
Korea recorded an unbeaten run in the final qualifiers for the first time in 15 years since 2010. After unfortunately losing in the away match against the UAE on March 29, 2022, which ended their unbeaten streak in the final qualifiers for the 2022 Qatar World Cup, Korea concluded this round without any losses.
Korea took the lead with a goal from Jeon Jin-woo in the 30th minute of the first half, and in the 6th and 9th minutes of the second half, Lee Kang-in and Oh Hyun-kyu scored back-to-back goals, boosting the momentum. Following that, in the 27th minute of the second half, substitute Lee Jae-sung scored the fourth goal, achieving a perfect victory.
After the match, Bae Jun-ho told reporters, "As a player, I have a responsibility to score goals. Personally, I really wanted to increase my attacking points, but I think it was very helpful to assist, so I am very pleased."
In this match, Bae Jun-ho recorded 2 assists along with 3 chance creations and attempted 3 shots. One of those attempts was noticeably saved by the goalkeeper's fingertips.
Bae Jun-ho, who had been named to the U-22 national team, was additionally selected for the A national team ahead of this match. Bae Jun-ho remarked, "The last time I played for the U-22 national team was a month ago. The opportunity to be part of the A national team itself is a huge chance for players."
There was also a mention of Lee Kang-in. Lee Kang-in stated in a previous press conference, "The younger players worked very hard." Bae Jun-ho, who is two years younger than Lee Kang-in, said, "He is an incredibly inspiring senior for the juniors. He provides a lot of help."
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