Son: This could be my last World Cup
Heading to a fourth FIFA World Cup, Korea Republic icon Son Heungmin is determined to live up to the legacy of the 2002 generation.
Son Heungmin speaks exclusively to FIFA
Korea Republic captain is preparing for his fourth World Cup
Is determined to live up to the legacy of the 2002 generation
Amongst the players in Korea Republic’s 23-man squad from the FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014™, only goalkeeper Kim Seunggyu and striker Son Heungmin currently remain with the Taegeuk Warriors, who will be at the global showpiece this summer for the 12th time.
When Son, now 33, made his World Cup bow, six players in Korea Republic’s recently announced squad for the FIFA World Cup 2026™ in Mexico, Canada, and the United States were schoolchildren. If Hong Myungbo’s men advance beyond the quarter-finals at the World Cup this summer, Son will be celebrating his 34th birthday with his younger teammates whilst the Koreans are still alive in the tournament.
Last August, Son left Tottenham to join LAFC, with the move igniting Los Angeles, a city with more than 300,000 Korean residents. Son admitted that his move to Major League Soccer was done partly for him to prepare for the World Cup, and to spark an even stronger passion for football among the Korean community in the US.
FIFA recently met with Son to talk about his mindset as Korea Republic captain and how the World Cup has shaped his storied career.
Son Heungmin: The first thing on my mind is that it is my childhood dream. The first World Cup I watched – the ’98 World Cup – I don't remember it clearly. The first World Cup I truly experienced was the 2002 World Cup. I always had it in my mind that I wanted to become a football player and participate in a grand festival of football like that. Now it's my fourth World Cup as a player and I consider it a real honour to have another chance to fulfil my dream.
The World Cup was the biggest reason for my transfer. I feel extremely excited. I want to have another great World Cup. If we play in L.A., then that would be even better. When I transferred, I was excited about bringing joy to the Korean community and the people living there. They make me proud to be Korean and to be a player for Korea. That means a lot to me and I always want to give back everything that I have. That’s why I always do my best and play with a smile.
Our coach achieved something incredible and, as the captain of the 2002 World Cup team, led all the players, taking them on such a wonderful journey. I want to have a similar journey with my teammates. My biggest dream is to recreate that wonderful journey in the USA.
I don’t think it’s something that can be done by the team alone. Everything really has to come together as one. The words of the Korean people really give the players great strength. To achieve such a great accomplishment, everyone must be united in their heart and in their mind. This could be my last World Cup. I’m hoping for a wonderful journey.
That’s something I really want to say to the fans and also a request I want to make: if the fans continue to support us passionately and always stand by us, cheering us on from behind, then I will lead the players from the front, and we will face the World Cup without fear.
I've never thought of it as a burden. I always think that I’m someone who can bring joy to people, and I stay humble and always do my best. Of course, there is a sense of responsibility, but it doesn’t come across as a burden. I actually feel really lucky.
I think the 2014 World Cup changed me, because I was the youngest player in the team. I just thought it was going to be exciting and fun to go to the World Cup. Then, I faced reality. I think that period was when I grew the most as a person and as a footballer.
The match against Algeria in particular was when I first scored a goal at the World Cup, but that defeat was very painful. So, I thought to myself that I still wanted more. I realised that I was lacking a lot and there are so many players in the world who are good at football. I felt that a lot during that match.
That was always a phrase I heard when I was young and it was the most meaningful phrase when I joined the team. Even now, I think fighting spirit is one of the most important things to us. Technical skills and physical strength are obviously necessary, but the times when we shine the most are when that fighting spirit is most evident.