Why is Son Heung-min benched for South Korea vs South Africa in FIFA World Cup 2026?
(Courtesy : Getty Images)
A decision to bench Son has surprised many fans.
South Korea entered Matchday 3 of Group A with their qualification for the Round of 32 still up in the air ahead of their last group encounter against South Africa at Estadio Monterrey. However, in a brave and startling move, captain Son Heung-min has been placed on the bench for this crucial encounter.
Son will start the game on the bench owing to a tactical choice by head coach Hong Myung-bo. While the former Tottenham star is totally healthy, he has struggled to contribute in front of goal in the first two games. This led the manager to keep him as a super-sub against South Africa instead.
Son Heung-min on bench for the South Africa game
Rather, the starting lineup will have PSG’s Lee Kang-in on the right flank, Hwang Hee-chan on the left, and Oh Hyeon-gyu as the centre striker. With this tactical change, the South Korean manager has chosen the ruggedness of the Genk attacker to serve as a target man against the athletic South African backline.
Son Heung-min’s problems in this tournament began with the opening match against Czechia. He took six shots but did not score. Son was replaced by Oh Hyeon-gyu, who scored the game-winning goal in the 80th minute.
A similar issue occurred in the second group match against Mexico. Son struggled to produce threatening opportunities again, except for a shot saved off the line by Edson Alvarez. He was substituted in the 57th minute of a 1-0 loss to El Tri.
Son Heung-Min has started 12 consecutive World Cup matches for South Korea until tonight. This is the first time they’ve opened a World Cup match without Son since 2010.
Why is Son Heung-min on the bench vs South Africa?
He has not been able to contribute in the last two games. He could be used as a super-sub.
When was the last time he wasn’t in the starting lineup in the World Cup?
In 2010.
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After earning a bachelor's degree in mass media, Rajarshi began his career as a sports writer in 2019, driven by his passion for sports journalism. He has been working in the field for over six years. A devoted fan of Lionel Messi and Barcelona, Rajarshi has been involved in sports since childhood. Before turning his focus to journalism, he even represented his college at the state level. Along with covering football, he enjoys playing the game, watching movies, and experimenting with new recipes in his spare time, as cooking is one of his favorite hobbies.