Hong Leaves Door Open to Changing Son Heung-min’s Captaincy Before September US Tour

When Hong Myung-bo stepped up to the lectern in Seoul this week to announce his South Korea squad for September’s friendlies against the United States and Mexico, the names contained few surprises. Son Heung-min, now freshly embedded at Los Angeles FC after his decade-long spell in the Premier League, was always going to be included. But what caught the eye was not his presence, but the coach’s suggestion that both his position and his captaincy could be open to change.

A shift from midfield to striker

Son has traditionally appeared on squad lists as a midfielder, reflecting his role as a wide forward or second striker under successive managers. This time, however, he has been listed as a forward – a small but telling adjustment.

It mirrors his recent deployment in MLS, where LAFC have used him as a central striker. Hong was candid in explaining that he sees no problem with continuing that experiment. “Even during the World Cup qualifying campaign, we used him as a striker,” the coach said. “He can play there comfortably.”

For Korea, the move is pragmatic. At 33, Son’s pace remains formidable but is no longer the inexhaustible resource it once was. Placing him in a more central, penalty-box role allows the team to benefit from his instincts and finishing while reducing the defensive running that comes with wide roles.

The captaincy question

If the positional tweak was expected, Hong’s comments on the captain’s armband were less so. Son has been captain since the 2019 Asian Cup, and had worn the armband even earlier when deputising for the injured Ki Sung-yueng in Russia 2018. He has carried the responsibility for six years, a period in which Korean football has both celebrated and suffered.

Asked whether Son would remain captain, Hong gave no definitive answer. “I haven’t made any decisions yet,” he said, before adding that if a change “helped the team,” it was possible. The implication was clear: Son may yet hand the armband to another.

That prospect should not be misread as demotion. Rather, it may be about recalibrating burdens. “What matters is not how long Son plays, but what decisive role he can perform in key moments,” Hong remarked. The subtext is that the coach wants Son unencumbered, able to deliver decisive interventions without the added responsibility of managing referees, media, and dressing-room disputes.

Pride and precedent

For Son, however, the armband has always carried enormous pride. The symbolism of leading his country has mattered deeply, just as it does for many elite footballers. History offers cautionary tales. Robert Lewandowski, stripped of the Poland captaincy without consultation earlier this year, refused to play until the decision was reversed. Son is unlikely to respond in similar fashion, but the example illustrates the need for delicate management.

Hong appears to understand this balance. He has not declared a change, only opened the possibility. The likely course would be to share responsibility, perhaps appointing a vice-captain or rotating the duty depending on opponent and context.

A recalibrated star

What emerges from Hong’s words is a manager carefully recalibrating the role of his biggest star. Son remains central – his inclusion was never in doubt – but central in a different way. As a striker rather than a winger, as a leader in influence rather than necessarily in title, and as a decisive presence whose minutes may be managed more carefully.

Korea’s September fixtures in the United States will not decide anything of lasting consequence. But the sight of Son leading the line, and perhaps not leading the team out, will be watched closely. For Hong, the challenge is to maximise his captain’s value without overburdening him. For Son, the task is to embrace whatever role best serves the collective cause.

The Taeguk Warriors know they cannot reach their potential in North America 2026 without him. The question is how best to use him – and whether sharing the responsibility might unleash his best.