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Saturday, June 7, 2025

Korea Secures 11th Consecutive World Cup Qualification With Win Over Iraq

Korea’s national soccer team defeated Iraq 2-0 on June 6, clinching a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup and marking its 11th consecutive qualification since the 1986 Mexico tournament.

Jin-kyu Kim celebrates after scoring South Korea's first goal against Iraq during 2026 World Cup qualifiers
Jin-kyu Kim celebrates after scoring South Korea’s first goal against Iraq in Basra during a 2026 World Cup qualifier. REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani

The match was held at Basra International Stadium in Iraq as part of the Asian Group B third-round qualifiers. The winning goal came in the 63rd minute of the second half, scored by Jin-kyu Kim of Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors. The team was led at the time by head coach Myung-bo Hong.

With this result, Korea has now qualified for the World Cup 11 times in a row since the 1986 tournament in Mexico, and 12 times total, including its first appearance at the 1954 tournament in Switzerland.

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The Korea Daily Digital Team
The Korea Daily Digital Team
The Korea Daily Digital Team operates the largest Korean-language news platform in the United States, with a core staff of 10 digital journalists and a network of contributing authors based in both Korea and the U.S. The team delivers breaking news, in-depth reporting, and community-focused coverage for readers nationwide.