Heung-Min Son returned to action for a final appearance of 2024/25 as South Korea completed an unbeaten qualifying campaign for the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a 4-0 win against Kuwait on Tuesday.
Sonny's last start was at Villa on 16 May and after appearing off the bench in the UEFA Europa League Final in Bilbao, was rested again for the season's finale against Brighton as he continued to manage a foot issue. He was also an unused substitute as Korea secured qualification for next summer's finals in USA/Mexico and Canada with a 2-0 win against Iraq on Thursday.
Captain of club and country, Sonny stepped off the bench for the final 15 minutes at Seoul's World Cup Stadium with his side already 4-0 up. That's how it stayed, and Korea qualify for the finals again - they have qualified for every World Cup since 1986 - reaching the semi-finals when they co-hosted with Japan in 2002 - that's 11 straight World Cups, and only five nations have a better consecutive appearance record.
Kevin Danso - Austria away 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against San Marino - kick-off 7.45pmPape Matar Sarr - Senegal away friendly against England - kick-off 7.45pmManor Solomon - Israel friendly against Slovakia in Hungary - kick-off 7.45pmMicky van de Ven - Netherlands home 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Malta - kick-off 7.45pmWilson Odobert and Mathys Tel - France Under-21s European Under-21 Championship group stage match against Portugal in Slovakia - kick-off 8pmJamie Donley - Northern Ireland home friendly against Iceland - kick-off 7.45pmJosh Keeley - Republic of Ireland away friendly against Luxembourg - kick-off 7.45pm
Aaron Maguire - Republic of Ireland Under-21s friendly against Qatar in Croatia - kick-off 5pm
Early Wednesday morning
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Rodrigo Bentancur - Uruguay home 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Venezuela - kick-off 12amRicharlison - Brazil home 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Paraguay - kick-off 1.45am
Cristian Romero - Argentina home 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Colombia - kick-off 1am