Korea Republic (South Korea) World Cup Statistics

Korea Republic's FIFA World Cup win and loss records are listed below.

• Total wins (10): Korea Republic has recorded 10 wins across 11 World Cup appearances, with 4 wins in 2002 alone and the remaining 6 spread across campaigns from 1986 to 2026.
• Total losses (17): Korea Republic has recorded 17 losses across eleven appearances, with the majority coming in group stage matches against higher-ranked European and South American opponents.
• Total draws (13): Korea Republic has drawn 13 matches across all World Cup appearances, reflecting a competitive record against opponents of similar ranking across multiple group stage campaigns.
• Win rate (25.0% overall): Korea Republic's win rate across 40 World Cup matches confirms consistent competitiveness without dominance, against elite European and South American opposition.
• Group stage advancement rate: Korea Republic has advanced from the group stage in 6 of 11 World Cup appearances, reflecting one of Asia's strongest knockout qualification records across the tournament's history.

South Korea's final Group A match against South Africa carried direct knockout stakes, and Bafana Bafana delivered the decisive blow. South Africa, appearing at a fourth World Cup and chasing a first-ever knockout-stage appearance, beat South Korea 1-0 in Monterrey, with Heung-min Son left out of the starting lineup for the must-win fixture. The result confirmed South Africa as Group A runners-up on four points and eliminated South Korea, who finished third on three points with a minus-one goal difference that fell short of the cutoff for the best third-place teams. The loss capped a disappointing finish for Korea Republic, an 11th-time World Cup entrant with a fourth-place finish from 2002 as their best result, who opened with a comeback win over Czechia before losing 1-0 to co-hosts Mexico and now to South Africa to close out the group without further progress in South Africa vs South Korea Statistics matchup.

The Korea Republic matches considered statistical highlights are listed below.

• Korea Republic 5-3 Portugal (2002 group stage): Korea Republic defeated the reigning European champions in a high-scoring group match, producing the highest-scoring victory in the program's World Cup history.
• Korea Republic 0-0 Spain, won 3-0 on penalties (2002 quarter-final): Korea Republic eliminated the Spanish giants through a penalty shootout, producing one of the most statistically dramatic results in World Cup history involving an Asian nation.
• Korea Republic 2-1 Portugal (2022 group stage): Hwang Hee-chan's 90th-minute goal completed a dramatic comeback, with Korea Republic advancing on goal difference in a statistically decisive final group match.
• Korea Republic 3-1 Jordan (1986 group stage debut win): Korea Republic recorded their first-ever World Cup victory against Jordan, launching the program's competitive modern era.
• Korea Republic 2-1 Ghana (2026 group stage): Son Heung-min's goal contribution drove a crucial win that secured Korea Republic's group stage advancement in the 2026 tournament's decisive second fixture.

Korea Republic has produced statistical results against higher-ranked nations across multiple World Cup campaigns, most notably at the 2002 tournament on home soil. Victories over Portugal, Spain, Italy, and Germany across the 2002 campaign confirmed the program's capacity to defeat elite European nations in competitive tournament conditions. Korea Republic has generally adopted a compact defensive structure and counter-attacking approach against stronger opponents, limiting possession while maximizing transition efficiency.
The 2026 campaign continued the pattern with Korea Republic recording 46 percent possession against Uruguay, Ghana, and Portugal while generating 4 goals through direct, transition-based attacking sequences. Son Heung-min's quality against higher-ranked opponents remains Korea Republic's most reliable statistical asset in fixtures where the program cedes possession to stronger sides.
Korea Republic Attacking and Defensive Statistics

Korea Republic's defensive statistics at the FIFA World Cup are listed below.

• Goals conceded (total): Korea Republic has conceded 66 goals across 40 World Cup matches, averaging 1.65 goals conceded per match and reflecting a defensive record that has improved across the modern era.
• Clean sheets: Korea Republic has recorded clean sheets across multiple group stage and knockout matches, with the 2002 campaign producing the most clean sheets of any single tournament campaign.
• Tackles per match (2026): Korea Republic averaged 13.8 tackles per match across the 2026 group stage, reflecting an organized pressing structure and high defensive work rate under Hong Myung-bo.
• Interceptions per match (2026): Korea Republic averaged 7.6 interceptions per match across the 2026 group stage, with Kim Min-jae and Jung-hwan Kwon leading the team's defensive disruption.
• Goalkeeper saves: Jo Hyeon-woo recorded 2.8 saves per match across the 2026 group stage, contributing reliable shot-stopping across all three fixtures.

The players who contributed the most to Korea Republic's World Cup goals are listed below.

• Son Heung-min: Son leads Korea Republic's modern World Cup scoring record, netting goals across four consecutive tournament appearances and contributing 2 goals and 2 assists at the 2026 tournament alone.
• Hwang Hee-chan: Hwang scored the decisive 90th-minute goal against Portugal at the 2022 World Cup and contributed 1 goal and 1 assist at the 2026 tournament, establishing himself as a two-tournament scoring contributor.
• Ahn Jung-hwan: Ahn scored the golden goal that eliminated Italy in the 2002 quarter-final, producing one of the most iconic goal contributions in World Cup history by a Korean player.
• Park Ji-sung: Park contributed goals and assists across the 2002 and 2006 tournaments, establishing himself as one of Korea Republic's most important multi-tournament goal contributors.
• Oh Hyeon-gyu: Oh scored at the 2026 tournament as the primary striker, continuing Korea Republic's tradition of central striker contributions across the group stage.

Korea Republic's balance between attack and defense has shifted across eleven World Cup tournaments, reflecting changes in coaching philosophy, squad quality, and tactical evolution. The 2002 campaign under Hiddink prioritized high defensive intensity combined with explosive counter-attacking, producing 8 goals and a fourth-place finish through collective pressing and direct forward movement.
The modern era under Hong Myung-bo has maintained the defensive compactness while increasingly incorporating technically proficient possession-based phases in the midfield. The 2026 campaign's 46 percent possession average and 83 percent pass accuracy reflect a more technically rounded squad than previous generations, though the counter-attacking identity remains the program's primary attacking mechanism against stronger opposition.
Korea Republic Player Statistics and Records

Son Heung-min holds Korea Republic's most distinguished modern World Cup appearance record, having featured across four consecutive tournaments from 2014 to 2026. Son's consistent selection across four editions reflects his status as the program's most important player and the cornerstone of Korea Republic's attacking structure across a decade of World Cup football. Park Ji-sung previously held the record for most tournament appearances among Korea Republic's outfield players, featuring across three consecutive editions from 2002 to 2010. Hong Myung-bo (the current head coach) holds the record for most World Cup appearances as a player, having featured across four tournaments from 1990 to 2002 as a central defender.

World Cup odds update before and during matches in response to lineup announcements, player availability, in-play events like goals and red cards, possession changes, and remaining time.

You can bet on South Korea FIFA World Cup matches on UFABET by selecting a preferred market, reviewing available odds, and placing a wager before or during the match.

The factors that make the Korea Republic statistically successful at the FIFA World Cup are listed below.

• Consecutive qualification: Eleven consecutive appearances from 1986 to 2026 reflect the program's structural strength and consistent technical quality across multiple generations of players.
• Defensive discipline: Korea Republic's compact defensive structure and organized pressing system have produced clean sheets and low concession rates against stronger opponents across multiple tournaments.
• Counter-attacking efficiency: Korea Republic's transition-based attacking model generates goals from limited possession, maximizing the quality of players (Son Heung-min and Hwang Hee-chan) on the counter.
• High-intensity pressing: Korea Republic's collective pressing work rate has consistently disrupted higher-ranked opponents, contributing to statistically upsets across the 2002 and 2022 tournaments.
• Elite individual talent: Son Heung-min's Premier League-level quality provides Korea Republic with a world-class attacking outlet that elevates the program's scoring statistics beyond what squad depth alone would suggest.

South Korea's second Group A match against co-host Mexico came with the group picture already tilting toward the hosts, and Mexico closed it out. Mexico, appearing in a 17th World Cup, entered the fixture unbeaten after an opening win over South Africa, and a single goal was enough to beat South Korea 1-0 and confirm El Tri's place in the Round of 32 with a game still to play. The result left South Korea, an 11th-time entrant with a fourth-place finish in 2002 as their high point, needing results elsewhere to survive, a task complicated further by the Mexico loss dropping the team's goal difference. Mexico went on to finish the group with a flawless nine points and no goals conceded, while South Korea's defeat to Mexico became part of a group-stage exit sealed by a later loss to South Africa in Mexico vs South Korea Statistics matchup.

The weaknesses that appear in Korea Republic's World Cup statistics are listed below.

• Possession deficit: Korea Republic averages below 47% possession across recent World Cup campaigns, indicating a structural tendency to cede ball control against higher-ranked opposition.
• Goals conceded rate: Korea Republic has conceded 66 goals across 40 World Cup matches, averaging 1.65 per match, highlighting defensive vulnerabilities when pressing structures are bypassed.
• Inconsistent group stage performance: Korea Republic has failed to advance from the group stage in 5 of 11 appearances, reflecting inconsistency in converting competitive performances into consistent points across three-match campaigns.
• Over-reliance on Son Heung-min: Korea Republic's attacking statistics across the 2022 and 2026 tournaments confirm a dependency on Son's output for goal creation and finishing.
• Pass completion rate against elite opponents: Korea Republic's pass accuracy drops below 80 percent against top-ranked European and South American sides, reflecting difficulty maintaining technical composure under high-pressure opposition.

Korea Republic's statistics help analyze future matches by providing a clear data-driven framework for assessing likely possession patterns, scoring probability, and defensive vulnerability against specific opponent types. Historical data confirms that Korea Republic concedes possession against higher-ranked opponents while generating goals through rapid transitions, making counter-attacking markets and under-based possession lines statistically relevant in most fixtures.
Son Heung-min's consistent goal and assist output across four World Cup tournaments provides a reliable statistical benchmark for anytime goalscorer markets. Korea Republic's defensive compactness record against South American opponents and historical upset potential against European sides provide additional analytical layers for bettors assessing pre-match and live market opportunities involving the program across future World Cup fixtures.
Korea Republic Statistics and Betting Analysis

The Korea Republic statistics most useful for betting analysis are listed below.

• Goals scored per match (1.33 in 2026): The goals-per-match average supports over-based total goals markets and both-teams-to-score selections across most fixtures where Korea Republic faces attacking opponents.
• Possession average (46 percent): Korea Republic's below-50 possession average confirms a counter-attacking profile that informs handicap markets and live betting patterns across fixtures against higher-ranked sides.
• Son Heung-min's goalscoring record: Son's consistent goal contributions across four World Cup tournaments support anytime goalscorer markets at moderate odds in every Korea Republic fixture.
• Defensive clean sheet record: Korea Republic's single clean sheet across three 2026 group matches confirms both-teams-to-score selections as statistically grounded against most attacking opponents.
• Historical upset potential: Korea Republic's record of defeating Portugal (2002, 2022), Spain (2002), Italy (2002), and Germany (2002) provides analytical context for evaluating long-price match-winner markets against higher-ranked opponents.

Korea Republic's performances influence betting odds through the program's established profile as a compact defensive counter-attacking side with elite attacking quality. Pre-match odds against higher-ranked opponents (Portugal, Uruguay, and Argentina) reflect favoritism toward the stronger side, while Korea Republic's historical upset record and Son Heung-min's presence create measurable value in draw and underdog markets. Live odds shift during Korea Republic fixtures when Son Heung-min receives the ball in transition, with UFABET's in-play pricing compressing rapidly when Korea Republic enters the final third on the counter. A Korea Republic goal in a fixture where the team trails compresses draw and Korea Republic win odds immediately, creating short-window value for bettors monitoring live match data across the 90 minutes.

The factors bettors should review before analyzing Korea Republic matches are listed below.

• Son Heung-min availability: Son's fitness and starting status directly impact Korea Republic's goal probability, anytime goalscorer markets, and match-winner pricing across every fixture.
• Opponent ranking and possession style: Higher-ranked possession-dominant opponents reduce Korea Republic's counter-attacking opportunities, lowering total goals probability and supporting under and draw markets.
• Kim Min-jae defensive fitness: Kim's availability anchors Korea Republic's defensive structure, with his absence measurably increasing goals-conceded probability and influencing both-teams-to-score selections.
• Recent form across qualifying and friendlies: Korea Republic's pre-tournament form confirms tactical setup and pressing intensity, providing a reliable baseline for assessing group stage market selections.
• Head-to-head records against specific opponents: Korea Republic's historical results against European and South American nations provide upset probability context that pre-match odds undervalue.

The young Korea Republic players who could impact future statistics are listed below.

• Lee Kang-in: Lee's creative output (44 key passes across three group stage matches in 2026) confirms his capacity to become Korea Republic's primary playmaking reference in the post-Son era.
• Hong Hyun-seok: Hong's pace and directness from wide areas provide Korea Republic with a dynamic attacking option capable of generating transition goals in future tournaments.
• Oh Hyeon-gyu: Oh's goal at the 2026 World Cup confirmed his potential as a future central striker, with his physical profile and finishing instinct suited to Korea Republic's counter-attacking system.
• Paik Seung-ho: Paik's disciplined midfield presence and ball-winning capacity provide defensive structural depth that will become increasingly important as the squad transitions beyond its current senior core.
• Yang Hyun-jun: Yang's wide attacking ability and progressive dribbling output from domestic football suggest a player capable of contributing goal and assist statistics across future international tournaments.

South Korea opened their 2026 World Cup campaign with a dramatic comeback win over Czechia, a result that set an early positive tone before the team's form faded across the rest of Group A. Czechia took the lead in the second half through Ladislav Krejčí's header, but South Korea responded immediately through Hwang In-beom before substitute Oh Hyeon-gyu struck in the 80th minute to complete a 2-1 win in Guadalajara. The victory gave Korea Republic, an 11th-time World Cup entrant with a fourth-place finish from 2002 as their best result, an early lead in Group A that the team could not sustain, following the Czechia win with back-to-back losses to Mexico (1-0) and South Africa (1-0) to finish third on three points. Czechia never recovered from the opening defeat, closing out the group stage bottom of the table after a 3-0 loss to Mexico on the final matchday, meaning the Korea Republic result stood as the only match either side won in the group in South Korea vs Czechia Statistics matchup.

Korea Republic can improve its future World Cup numbers by following the six steps. First, developing midfield players capable of sustaining 50 percent possession against stronger opponents would reduce defensive exposure and increase total shot volume per match. Second, improving pass accuracy under pressure against elite high-press opponents would extend attacking sequences and generate more big chances per fixture. Third, developing a second reliable central striker beyond Oh Hyeon-gyu would distribute goal-scoring responsibility more evenly across the squad. Fourth, reducing goals conceded per match from 1.65 (career average) to below 1.0 through improved defensive transition organization would increase clean sheet frequency. Fifth, maintaining qualification consistency across AFC's increasingly competitive regional qualifying structure ensures continued participation in the expanded 48-team format. Lastly, integrating young talents (Lee Kang-in, Hong Hyun-seok, and Yang Hyun-jun) into regular starting roles ahead of future tournaments builds the statistical depth required for sustained knockout advancement.

You can bet on Korea Republic's next FIFA World Cup match by following the six steps. First, access the UFABET platform through the official website or mobile application. Second, deposit funds through supported payment methods (bank transfers, debit cards, and e-wallet services). Third, open the football section and locate Korea Republic's upcoming World Cup fixture from the match listings. Fourth, review Korea Republic's recent form, head-to-head records, Son Heung-min's availability, and defensive statistics before selecting a market. Fifth, choose a preferred betting option (match winner, total goals, teams to score, Asian handicap, or anytime goalscorer). Lastly, confirm the stake amount and finalize the bet through the platform, with live in-play options available throughout the fixture for Football Betting.
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