The Korea Football Association (KFA) has announced a lucrative reward for the national men's football team's successful bid to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. In a statement released Tuesday, the KFA confirmed that a total of 2.7464 billion won would be distributed among 39 players who participated in the third round of Asian qualifiers. The payout, which will be tiered based on individual contribution, will see top performers receiving as much as 100 million won each.

The criteria for the bonuses are primarily centered on playing time during the ten-game qualifying round, in which South Korea secured a first-place finish in Group B with an undefeated record of six wins and four draws. According to an official, the players with the most minutes on the pitch were goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo (905 minutes), defender Seol Young-woo (902 minutes), and midfielder Hwang In-beom (855 minutes). Team captain Son Heung-min, who missed three matches due to injury, received a captain’s bonus in addition to his 585 minutes of playing time.

In other developments, the national team has traveled to the United States for two upcoming friendly matches. Coach Hong Myung-bo's squad will face the U.S. and Mexico on September 7 and 10, respectively. The matches mark a historic moment for the team with the inclusion of midfielder Jens Kastrop, the first player of mixed heritage to be selected for the men’s national team. The German-born player, whose mother is Korean, plays for Borussia Mönchengladbach in the Bundesliga and is known for his relentless defensive play. Coach Hong expressed his intent to help Kastrop acclimate to his new team.

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