The South Korean men's football team received the ticket to the 2026 World Cup, and Hamadi received a red card prematurely

In the third phase of the 2026 World Cup Asian Qualifying Tournament Group B match, although South Korean captain Son Heung-min was absent due to injury, the South Korean men's football team, ranked 23rd in the world, defeated the world's 59th-ranked Iraq 2-0 away on the 6th, and the South Korean men's football team got the ticket to the 2026 World Cup finals in advance, and it is also the 11th consecutive World Cup to qualify for the World Cup.

The South Korean men's football team received tickets for the 2026 World Cup

In the 24th minute of the first half of the game, Iraqi striker Ali Ibrahim Al-Hamadi (Ali Ibrahim Al-Hamadi) competed with South Korean midfielder Cho Yoomin for the ball. After a VAR review, Ali Hamadi finally received a red card, leaving Iraq in a "10-on-11" situation early.

Iraqi striker Ali Hamadi (right) was sent off after receiving a red card

Although the South Korean team did not score in the first half, in the second half, Kim Jin-gyu and Oh Hyun-hyun scored one goal each, and the South Korean team won 2-0. The South Korean men's football team is the leader in Group B with 5 wins, 4 draws and 19 points, and it is confirmed that it will receive the World Cup ticket in advance.

"I expected it to be a tough game." South Korea's men's football coach Hong Myung-bok said that Ali Hamadi was sent off with a red card and therefore changed the situation of the game, "After the opponent has players sent off the field, we can control the pace of the game, and in the end we make full use of the numerical advantage to create scoring opportunities and win." ”