Winning the World Cup is an achievement few will ever know, with only eight nations having claimed victory in the men’s tournament. Yet, for many, it’s not merely about securing a star on the jersey; it’s about creating memorable World Cup moments.
(Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
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For numerous teams participating in this expanded World Cup, which now includes a Round of 32, the dream of winning might be beyond reach. According to Opta, South Korea has a 70% likelihood of making it to the knockout stage, a 33% chance of reaching the Round of 16, and only a 12% chance of getting to the quarter-finals. The probability of winning the tournament? Just 0.36%.
Even Japan, the highest-ranked Asian team, holds a mere 1.25% chance. Thus, South Korea falls into the category of “not realistic,” having advanced to the knockout rounds only three times in the past.
So what’s the goal? To create memories, to tell a story, and to have that unforgettable World Cup moment for both fans and players.
For various Taeguk Warriors, past and present, those moments have manifested in different ways—securing a clean sheet against reigning champions, achieving record-breaking assists, and scoring crucial goals to attain knockout stage progression.
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This holds true for Kim Young-gwon, a current center back for Ulsan HD, who has participated in four World Cups and scored in two.
His first World Cup goal came in the dying moments of a 2-0 victory over Germany in Russia, a historic moment that eliminated the reigning champions and instilled hope in the Taeguk Warriors after Sweden was simultaneously defeating Mexico.
His second goal came during the 2022 tournament in Qatar, paving the way for Korea to defeat Portugal and advance to the knockout stage. With over 100 appearances in a Korean jersey and experience in three World Cups, Kim has a wealth of memorable moments.
“It’s tough to pick just one,” he says. “My goal against Germany came after nearly 90 minutes of waiting — it was a thrilling, unexpected chance and turned out to be both the opener and the winner. Scoring against Portugal felt like a dream — something I had visualized before the game. But if I have to choose, the goal against Germany stands out; it came when we were already eliminated, but we fought until the end. Plus, I think my celebration was better then.”
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Goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo was also part of that game and managed to keep a clean sheet, facing a staggering 26 shots from Germany. Initially, he was a surprise starter in the 2018 tournament, with many expecting Kim Seung-gyu to be the primary choice. However, Jo’s outstanding performances and stunning saves quickly made him a household name in Korea.
(Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
“I’ve played over 400 league matches without ever scoring, so I don’t know that feeling firsthand (laughs). But I can say that was one of the most exhilarating moments of my football career. If that’s what scoring feels like, then I would wager it’s probably quite similar,” Jo reflected.
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The triumph against Germany seemed to generate individual highlights for the Korean players, with Ju Se-jong achieving recognition for the longest assist by an outfield player in World Cup history.
“I had no idea about that,” Ju admitted after being informed of his record, which he has held for eight years. “Being told now makes me feel proud, as it’s something people may continue discussing for the rest of my life.”
“During that match, I noticed that Neuer was quite far from his goal, and I thought that if the moment was right, we could capitalize on that. Luckily, when I got hold of the ball, I spotted Son Heung-min preparing to make a run and just aimed to deliver the best pass I could.”
The current roster of South Korean players is eager to carve out their own stories and make their own memorable moments as they aim to advance from Group A and into the Round of 32. Kim Young-gwon, for his part, is confident in their abilities.
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“The World Cup is a test against yourself, your opponents, and the unpredictability of the game. How well you manage that unpredictable factor will be critical. I’m still figuring things out, but I know many teammates in the current squad very well, and I’m certain they will either reach their peak performance or pour everything into this, possibly their final World Cup. I hope people will rally behind them and set high expectations.”