(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Hong-seok Ahn = The Korean national soccer team will compete for a spot in the round of 32 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North and Central America against the winners of the playoffs between Mexico, South Africa, and Europe.

At the draw for the North and Central American World Cup held at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. on the 6th (Korean time), Korea was placed in Group A with Mexico, South Africa, and the winner of the European playoffs.

The European teams that will face in Group A will be decided in the European Playoffs, where Denmark, North Macedonia, the Czech Republic and Ireland will compete.

The 23rd World Cup, the 2026 tournament, will be held from June 11 to July 19 next year in 16 stadiums in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

This is the second World Cup to be held in multiple countries following the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup, and the first World Cup to expand from 32 to 48 participating countries, covering the largest continent in history.

The teams are divided into 12 groups of 4 teams each and play in the group stage. The 1st, 2nd, and 8 best 3rd place teams from each group play in the round of 32 to determine the champion.

The Korean national team, led by coach Hong Myung-bo, won 6, drew 4, and was undefeated in the third round of the Asian regional qualifiers, accumulating 22 points and taking first place out of six teams in Group B, securing a ticket to North and Central America.

Korea, which is making its 11th consecutive appearance in the World Cup finals since the 1986 Mexico tournament and its 12th overall, is aiming to advance to the quarterfinals, its best performance in away tournament history.