Son Heung-min, Lee Kang-in, Seol Young-woo, Kim Seung-gyu, Lee Jae-sung named in Japanese outlet's World Cup worst XI

Five South Korean players, including Son Heung-min (LAFC) and Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain), have been named to a "worst XI" of Asian players at the 2026 North America World Cup, as selected by a Japanese media outlet.

Football Channel, a Japanese outlet, published its worst XI from among Asian players who participated in this World Cup on Friday.

Joining Son on the list were four other South Korean players: goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu (FC Tokyo), defender Seol Young-woo (Red Star Belgrade), and midfielders Lee Kang-in and Lee Jae-sung (Mainz).

Football Channel described Son as "the greatest footballer in Asian history" but said he was "the prime example of a player who significantly damaged his reputation at this World Cup." Son played all three group-stage matches without scoring or providing an assist.

The outlet added that while Son had built a record of 56 career international goals — second-highest in South Korean history — "there was no sense of fear from Son at this World Cup."

The outlet acknowledged that remarks by a media figure mocking the military service exemption had hurt the morale of Son and his teammates, but said "even without that controversy, it is impossible to ignore that the sharpness Son showed in his prime was absent at this World Cup." It concluded that "if he had no involvement in any goals whatsoever, inclusion in the worst XI is unavoidable."

Kim came under scrutiny for an incident in the second group match against Mexico on June 19, when he came off his line to collect a high ball in the second half, collided with a teammate already positioned at the landing spot, and failed to hold on to the ball, conceding the opening goal. That goal proved to be the winner as South Korea lost 0-1.

Football Channel said it "may be unfair to include Kim Seung-gyu in the worst XI based on his overall play at the tournament," but added that "the cost of that conceded goal was very high."

On Lee Kang-in, the outlet noted that his pass completion rate of 93 percent at the tournament was impressive and that he had served as an outlet when the team's buildup play broke down. It said his inclusion in the worst XI was not his own fault but the responsibility of the team as a whole for failing to make better use of him.

Lee Jae-sung's inclusion was tied to off-field issues. Football Channel said "there was no reason to include him in the worst XI based on his performances alone," but cited former head coach Hong Myung-bo's decision to drop Lee from the starting lineup for the final group match against South Africa on June 25 as a result of internal discord within the squad.

Of Seol, the outlet said he "delivered low-quality performances and turned expectations into disappointment," adding that he "gave the impression of playing with the brakes on throughout."

The worst XI also included Saudi Arabia's Abdullah Al-Amri and Firas Al-Buraikan, Qatar's Pedro Miguel, Homam Ahmed and Assim Madibo, and Japan's Shiokai Kento.