Korea Republic sealed their place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Iraq at the Basra International Stadium on Thursday evening, thanks in no small part to a memorable debut performance from Jeon Jin-woo.

The Taegeuk Warriors, aiming for an unprecedented 11th consecutive appearance at the global showpiece, overcame a stubborn Iraq side who were forced to play with ten men for over an hour following Ali Al Hamadi’s red card for a high challenge on Cho Yu-min midway through the first half.

Despite dominating possession, Korea initially struggled to find the breakthrough, with Hwang Hee-chan squandering a golden chance from close range and Lee Jae-sung striking the crossbar from a Lee Kang-in free-kick. But head coach Hong Myung-bo, renowned for his astute second-half adjustments, once again demonstrated his tactical nous after the break.

Hong introduced the attack-minded midfielder Kim Jin-gyu at the restart, a move that paid immediate dividends. Exploiting Iraq’s defensive gaps in the half-spaces, Kim combined cleverly with Lee Kang-in before calmly slotting home the opener, sparking scenes of celebration among the travelling support.

The night belonged, however, to debutant Jeon Jin-woo. Having been named the K League’s top scorer this season with Jeonbuk Hyundai, Jeon was introduced for the misfiring Hwang Hee-chan and wasted no time in making his mark. His confident dribbling, incisive runs and willingness to shoot at every opportunity repeatedly unsettled the Iraqi defence.

It was fitting that Jeon played a key role in sealing the points late on. Linking up with fellow substitute Oh Hyeon-gyu, Jeon slipped a perfectly weighted through ball into the path of the striker, who made no mistake from close range to put the result beyond doubt.

With Son Heung-min sidelined through injury and Hwang Hee-chan yet to recapture his best form after a string of knocks, Jeon’s lively display has certainly given Hong a welcome selection headache ahead of next summer’s finals. His fearless performance on debut suggests that Korea may have unearthed a new attacking weapon just in time for the World Cup.