Son Heung-min’s foot injury casts doubt over South Korea’s World Cup qualifier against Iraq

South Korea’s national team captain, Son Heung-min, faces a race against time to prove his fitness for the crucial World Cup qualifier against Iraq, as a lingering foot injury threatens to sideline the Tottenham Hotspur star for the decisive clash.

The Taegeuk Warriors, under the guidance of head coach Hong Myung-bo, have already secured a commanding position in Group B of the AFC Third Round qualifying campaign, sitting atop the table with 16 points from four wins and four draws. A single point from their upcoming fixture in Iraq would be enough to mathematically seal their place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America.

However, the optimism surrounding South Korea’s qualification bid has been tempered by concerns over Son’s availability. The forward has struggled with a foot injury that initially saw him miss Tottenham’s final Premier League match of the 2024-25 season against Brighton and Hove Albion. Although Son made a brief substitute appearance in the Europa League final, it has now been revealed that the injury was more serious than first thought, requiring ongoing treatment for more than a month.

“Son hasn’t fully recovered yet,” Hong Myung-bo admitted at Incheon International Airport before the team’s departure for Iraq. “We still need to discuss with the medical team and the player himself to decide how best to manage his involvement. We have two matches to play, and we don’t want to take unnecessary risks.”

Son’s potential absence is particularly worrying given the challenging conditions awaiting the Korean squad in Iraq. This is the team’s first away trip to Iraq since February 1990, and the country remains on the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ travel ban list due to persistent security concerns, including sporadic terrorism threats. While the South Korean government has granted a special exemption for the national team, the trip is tightly controlled, with minimal staff and no travelling fans or media.

In addition to the political and logistical challenges, South Korea must also contend with the sweltering heat in Iraq. Temperatures are expected to soar above 40 degrees Celsius during the team’s stay, with nighttime temperatures still hovering around 35 degrees at kickoff. Such conditions place an extra strain on the players’ fitness and hydration, especially for those coming off long European club seasons.

Hong acknowledged the difficulties his squad faces, noting that the players’ overall physical condition is not ideal. “It’s a tough environment, both in terms of player conditioning and external factors,” he said. “But this is a key moment in our qualifying campaign. We will adjust over the next two days and aim to deliver a good performance.”

South Korea’s record under Hong Myung-bo provides some cause for optimism. Since taking charge in September 2024, Hong’s side has performed better on the road than at home, recording three wins and one draw away, compared to one win and three draws at home.

Despite the concerns over Son, South Korea are determined to take at least a point against third-placed Iraq (12 points from three wins, three draws and two losses) to secure their 11th consecutive World Cup finals appearance. Their final group match comes against bottom side Kuwait on 10 June.

As the squad boarded their charter flight bound for Basra, the sense of anticipation was mixed with caution. South Korea’s path to North America is nearly complete, but the potential absence of their talismanic captain serves as a stark reminder that footballing fortunes can be as unpredictable as they are dramatic.