Two injured defenders were replaced on the South Korean men’s national football team Friday ahead of World Cup qualifying matches next month.

The Korea Football Association (KFA) said Kwon Kyung-won of Khor Fakkan Club in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) won’t be able to play due to a left calf injury, while Kim Moon-hwan of Daejeon Hana Citizen in the domestic K League 1 was ruled out due to a left adductor injury.

In their stead, the KFA called up Cho Yu-min, who also plays in the UAE for Sharjah FC, and Hwang Jae-won of Daegu FC in the K League 1.

Cho has collected seven caps so far, while Hwang has earned two caps, with his international debut coming on June 6 this year.

The KFA said the injuries to Kwon and Kim aren’t serious but neither player would have been in best condition for the upcoming matches.

Coached by Hong Myung-bo, South Korea will host Palestine at 8 p.m. Thursday at Seoul World Cup Stadium for their first Group B match in the third round of the Asian qualification for the 2026 World C
up. South Korea will then travel to Muscat to play Oman on Sept. 10.

Hong will open training camp at Goyang Stadium in Goyang, just northwest of Seoul, on Monday.

There are three groups of six in the third round, and the top two teams from each group will punch their tickets to the 2026 World Cup. Teams finishing third and fourth in their groups will advance to the fourth round for another crack.

South Korea have played at every World Cup since 1986.

Source: Yonhap News Agency