Jens Castrop, a 22-year-old midfielder who switched international allegiance from Germany to South Korea in August 2025, was named in Hong Myung-bo’s 26-player World Cup squad. The selection makes him South Korea’s first foreign-born, dual-heritage World Cup p
Jens Castrop’s World Cup call-up doesn’t just add another midfielder to South Korea’s tournament squad, it marks a first: he becomes the country’s inaugural foreign-born player of dual heritage named for the World Cup.
Hong Myung-bo selected Castrop in a 26-player squad for this summer’s tournament.. At 22. the midfielder plays for Bundesliga side Borussia Mönchengladbach and completed an international allegiance change from Germany to South Korea in August 2025.. That month, he received his first call-up, becoming South Korea’s first foreign-born, mixed-heritage player.
The pathway behind the name on the list is direct. Castrop has a German father and a Korean mother. During the 2025-26 Bundesliga season, he made 26 appearances, scoring three goals and providing one assist. Since debuting for South Korea in September, he has made five appearances.
Castrop’s presence in the squad sits alongside familiar star power.. Los Angeles FC forward and South Korea’s all-time record appearance holder Son Heung-min was named. as were regular internationals Lee Kang-in. from Paris Saint-Germain. and Kim Min-jae. the Bayern Munich defender.. Celtic winger Yang Hyun-jun is also included.
Yang. 23. has been a regular part of the team that clinched the Scottish Premiership title on Saturday with a 3-1 victory against Hearts.. In the squad. Birmingham City midfielder Paik Seung-ho is named as well. alongside Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Hwang Hee-chan. who has scored two goals in 24 Premier League appearances this season.
Not every selection arrives with perfect certainty.. Midfielder Hwang In-beom had been a doubt for the World Cup after sustaining an injury while playing for Feyenoord.. Hong said Hwang In-beom was assessed and considered fit and healthy.. “I cannot say his match fitness is perfect yet. but once we travel to the U.S.. he will improve his form by playing in one of the two friendly matches. ” Hong told a press conference.
South Korea’s World Cup preparation includes two friendlies against Trinidad and Tobago and El Salvador.
The tournament comes with a Group A schedule that will test them from the opening match: they will face Czech Republic on June 11, Mexico on June 18, and South Africa on June 24.
The sequence of key selections and preparations is tight: the squad is set, two friendlies come before the tournament, and the only major fitness question discussed—Hwang In-beom’s—was met with a plan tied to travel to the U.S. and improved form through those friendlies.
South Korea’s 26-man World Cup squad in full:
Goalkeepers: Jo Hyun-woo (Ulsan HD). Kim Seung-gyu (FC Tokyo). Song Bum-keun (Jeonbuk Hyundai)
Defenders: Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich). Jo Yu-min (Sharjah). Lee Han-beom (Midtjylland). Kim Tae-hyun (Kashima Antlers). Park Jin-seop (Zhejiang FC). Lee Ki-hyeok (Gangwon FC). Lee Tae-seok (Austria Vienna). Seol Young-woo (Red Star Belgrade). Jens Castrop (Borussia Mönchengladbach). Kim Moon-hwan (Daejeon Hana)
Midfielders: Yang Hyun-jun (Celtic). Paik Seung-ho (Birmingham City). Hwang In-beom (Feyenoord). Kim Jin-kyu (Jeonbuk Hyundai). Bae Jun-ho (Stoke City). Um Ji-sung (Swansea City). Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton). Lee Dong-gyeong (Ulsan HD). Lee Jae-sung (Mainz). Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain)
Forwards: Oh Hyun-kyu (Besiktas). Son Heung-min (LA FC). Cho Kyu-sung (Midtjylland)
South Korea World Cup squad Jens Castrop Hong Myung-bo Son Heung-min Lee Kang-in Kim Min-jae Hwang In-beom Yang Hyun-jun Hwang Hee-chan