Korea Republic

Service	Type	Cost	Details
KBS	Free	₩0	South Korea's national public broadcaster secured a sub-licensing deal with JTBC to air selected matches free-to-air, including all South Korea national team fixtures. Accessible via standard TV reception and the KBS website.
JTBC	Paid	₩5,000–11,000/month (cable)	Exclusive rights holder for all 104 matches in South Korea — the first time the World Cup has been on pay-TV in Korea. Broadcast across JTBC, JTBC2, JTBC3 Golf & Sports, and JTBC4. Requires a cable subscription via SK Broadband, KT, or LG U+.
CHZZK (Naver)	Paid	Est. ₩4,900–6,900/month (or free with ads)	Naver's streaming platform CHZZK holds non-exclusive digital rights for the 2026 World Cup. Streams all matches live with Korean commentary, real-time chat, AI highlights and on-demand replays. Expected to be free with ads or bundled with a Naver Plus membership (est. ₩4,900–6,900/month). Available via chzzk.naver.com and the iOS/Android app.

FIFA Ranking

#23[1]

World Cup Appearances

11[2]

Best Result

Semi-finals

2002

Country

CapitalSeoul
Population~52 million
ContinentAsia
ConfederationAFC
National associationKFA – Korea Football Association

World Cup history

–

Titles: 0

South Korea has never won the FIFA World Cup
–

Total appearances: 11

Consecutive qualification since 1986 — the most of any Asian nation.[2]
2002

Semi-finals (co-host)

The only Asian team ever to reach the semi-finals, finishing fourth on home soil — the greatest achievement in Asian World Cup history.[2]
2022

Round of 16

Eliminated by Brazil in the knockout stage after finishing second in their group
2026

Group A — Mexico, South Africa, Czechia

All three group stage matches played in Mexico.[3]

Head coach

Hong Myung-bo

Since 2023[4]

South Korean football legend and 2002 World Cup semi-finalist as a player, now leading the team into a home-continent tournament. Returns to national team management with a wealth of international experience, tasked with matching or surpassing the heroics of 2002 on the biggest stage.[5]

Key players

Forward

Son Heung-min ↗

Captain and all-time leading scorer. One of the most lethal left-footed attackers in world football, with Premier League pedigree built over a decade at the top.

Attacking Midfielder