Lee Seung-woo, the first Taegeuk mark in five years and four months, said, “Come to the standing room after hearing the news of the launch…”I haven’t thought about the World Cup”
Lee Seung-woo talked about how he felt about being selected for the national team for the first time in five years and four months and the possibility of joining the 2026 North Korea-China World Cup.
On the afternoon of the 13th, the South Korean men’s national soccer team conducted training at Yongin Mir Stadium. Hong Myung-bo will play the fourth Group B match against Iraq in the third Asian qualifying round for the 2026 North-China World Cup at Yongin Mir Stadium on the 15th.
Lee Seung-woo has returned to the national team. On the 12th, the Korea Football Association said, “Hwang Hee-chan was called off due to the diagnosis that he could not participate in the match against Iraq due to the injury of his left ankle and Um Ji-sung’s left knee. Lee Seung-woo and Moon Sun-min have been selected as substitutes, and they will join the recovery training in Yongin.” Son Heung-min was not able to join the A-match in October due to his injury, and Hwang Hee-chan and Um Ji-sung were injured, so a substitute was needed.
Lee Seung-woo is a suitable replacement as he has the ability to change the game. He repeatedly proved his ability as a “game changer” by controlling dribbles and passes at his own tempo at Suwon FC and Jeonbuk Hyundai in this season. Regardless of his performance, he has been at odds over selecting the national team since his return to the K-League in that he has different characteristics from players who have been selected for the national team.
“A lot of things have changed except for the national team players,” Lee said. “I didn’t know it had been so long since I joined the 꽁머니 team. I was surprised to see the article,” Lee said in an interview before the training. “It’s new because the uniforms and training uniforms have changed a lot. I think the players are the same, but the clothes, staff and environment have changed a lot.”
When asked who among the players welcomed his joining the team the most, Lee said, “They were all the players I saw and it was comfortable to see them many times during the off-season. I was grateful that everyone welcomed me and congratulated me even after five years.”
Team Korea is in a good mood. “Of course, it’s a shame that we have players with injuries, but the atmosphere is so good among the players,” Lee said, reiterating the remarks that the players made after the match against Jordan. However, he noted that he has yet to have special talks with Hong Myung-bo.
Due to the sudden selection of the national team, Lee failed to get a train ticket. Since it was the weekend when the replacement of Lee and Moon Seon-min was announced due to injuries to Hwang Hee-chan and Um Ji-sung, it was like getting a train ticket to Seoul right away. Lee had no choice but to come up to the stand-up table with Moon.
Lee Seung-woo said, “I suddenly entered the evening before and took the train the next morning. I came to the standing room because I didn’t have a ticket.” After a moment of silence, when laughter broke out from the reporters, he immediately showed off his unique speech, saying, “I paid the money.”
Asked if he was standing, he said, “I don’t think he saw me because he squatted at the back. I came quietly from standing with (Moon) Sun-min,” and explained, “I sat in my carrier for more than an hour.”
Now, Lee Seung-woo is aiming to play in the match against Iraq beyond selecting the national team for the first time in a long time. Currently, only Bae Jun-ho and Lee Jae-sung can see the left wing. While Bae Jun-ho is expected to start, Lee Jae-sung is more suitable as an attacking midfielder, so Lee Seung-woo is likely to play as a substitute in the second half.
Lee first maintained a humble attitude. “It would be best if I compete, but even if it’s not that, I hope I can make many good memories in here,” Lee said. “If I have a chance to compete, I will do my best. It’s been a long time since I came here and I’ve been waiting for this long time, so I’ll prepare well and show you everything I can.”
Since he is focusing on the current situation, he also cautioned against premature diagnosis on the possibility of joining the World Cup. Lee made his debut for the national team through the 2018 World Cup in Russia, where coach Shin Tae-yong was. Since his debut was in the World Cup, naturally there was no choice but to talk about the 2026 World Cup in North Korea, China and the U.S.
“I didn’t have time to think about the World Cup because I came to the national team for the first time in five years,” Lee said. “I strengthened myself by training, thinking that everything will go as it goes so far. It was only after such a long time that I came to such a special place. That’s why I’ve never thought about it until the North-China World Cup.”