Hwang Hee-chan and Hwang In-beom Return to Hong Myung-bo’s Squad for October Brazil Friendly (Summary)

Key Overseas Players Including Son Heung-min, Lee Jae-sung, Lee Kang-in, and Kim Min-jae Selected

'Mixed-race Taeguk Warrior' Jens Retained; Park Yong-woo Out with Knee Injury

Head Coach Hong Myung-bo announcing the October call-up list (Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Choi Jae-gu = South Korea national football team head coach Hong Myung-bo announces the October roster for friendly matches at the Football Hall in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 29th and answers questions from reporters. 2025.9.29 jjaeck9@yna.co.kr

'The Bull' Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton) and 'Midfield Commander' Hwang In-beom (Feyenoord) are returning to Hong Myung-bo’s squad.

Hong Myung-bo, head coach of the South Korean national football team, announced a 26-man roster on the 29th at the Football Hall in Jongno-gu, Seoul, for the October A-match window, which will feature friendly matches against Brazil and Paraguay. The names of Hwang Hee-chan and Hwang In-beom were included.

During this A-match period, which coincides with the Chuseok holiday, Hong's side will face Brazil at 8:00 PM on the 10th and Paraguay at the same time on the 14th, both at the Seoul World Cup Stadium.

For Hwang Hee-chan, this marks his return to the national team after a four-month absence, having last appeared during the 2026 North and Central America World Cup Asian third qualifying round in June.

Once a prolific scoring duo alongside Son Heung-min (LAFC), Hwang Hee-chan was left off the September roster due to frequent injuries and a dip in goal-scoring form, which led to reduced playing time at his club.

However, he has been steadily increasing his playing time since scoring his first goal of the season shortly after that squad announcement.

Hwang Hee-chan training (Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Ryu Young-seok = South Korean national football team's Hwang Hee-chan trains at the Seoul World Cup Stadium on the 9th, one day before the final match of the 2026 North and Central America World Cup Asian third qualifying round against Kuwait. 2025.6.9 ondol@yna.co.kr

Coach Hong explained his decision, stating, "(Hwang Hee-chan) is performing well now and is getting playing time, which is why he was selected."

Key midfielder Hwang In-beom also returns to the team after four months, having shaken off a calf injury.

Hwang In-beom had been named to the September roster but was forced to withdraw after failing to recover from an injury sustained in a club match.

Coach Hong noted, "(Hwang In-beom) has two matches left (with his club before the friendlies), and I intend to monitor his situation and manage his playing time accordingly," adding, "Hwang In-beom is a very important player for our team."

Head coach Hong Myung-bo answering questions (Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Choi Jae-gu = South Korea national football team head coach Hong Myung-bo announces the October roster for friendly matches at the Football Hall in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 29th and answers questions from reporters. 2025.9.29 jjaeck9@yna.co.kr

'Captain' Son Heung-min, who is boasting excellent form with four consecutive goals in Major League Soccer (MLS), along with overseas-based stars Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain), Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich), and Lee Jae-sung (Mainz), were all included in Coach Hong's list as expected.

Additionally, Jens Castrop (Mönchengladbach), a dual-citizen of South Korea and Germany who made an impressive national team debut in September and recently scored his debut goal for his club, was also selected again.

Park Yong-woo (Al Ain), considered one of Coach Hong’s protégés, was left off the list after suffering a severe knee injury during a club match last month.

Regarding Park, Coach Hong said, "He is a player who has always prepared diligently for the national team, and it is very unfortunate that he suffered a major injury. Such things can happen before we reach the World Cup. We must be well-prepared for these kinds of crises." Yonhap News

Head coach Hong Myung-bo answering questions (Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Choi Jae-gu = South Korea national football team head coach Hong Myung-bo announces the October roster for friendly matches at the Football Hall in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 29th and answers questions from reporters. 2025.9.29 jjaeck9@yna.co.kr

◇ October A-match 2-game roster (26 players)

▲ GK= Jo Hyeon-woo (Ulsan), Kim Seung-gyu (Tokyo), Song Bum-keun (Jeonbuk)

▲ DF= Kim Min-jae (Munich), Cho Yu-min (Sharjah), Lee Han-beom (Midtjylland), Kim Ju-sung (Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Park Jin-seop (Jeonbuk), Kim Ji-soo (Kaiserslautern), Kim Moon-hwan, Lee Myung-jae (Daejeon), Lee Tae-seok (Austria Wien), Seol Young-woo (Zvezda), Jeong Sang-bin (St. Louis)

▲ MF= Won Du-jae (Khor Fakkan), Paik Seung-ho (Birmingham), Jens Castrop (Mönchengladbach), Hwang In-beom (Feyenoord), Kim Jin-kyu (Jeonbuk), Lee Jae-sung (Mainz), Eom Ji-sung (Swansea City), Lee Dong-gyeong (Gimcheon), Lee Kang-in (PSG)

▲ FW= Oh Hyeon-gyu (Genk), Son Heung-min (LAFC), Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton)