Lee Young-pyo, a KBS commentator known for his striking World Cup forecasts, appeared on KBS ‘9 News’ and confidently predicted that South Korea will advance to the Round of 32 at the 2026 World Cup in North America. He also singled out Oh Hyun-gyu as the player to score the team’s first goal of the tournament.
{KBS9시뉴스}이영표KBS해설위원 {IMAGE0}
During the broadcast on May 12, Lee discussed the upcoming World Cup, which KBS will exclusively cover among South Korean terrestrial broadcasters under the slogan “Uniting Korea: The World Cup on KBS.” The commentator, who famously predicted Spain’s early exit in the 2014 Brazil World Cup, shared his cautious outlook for South Korea’s group stage.
“I think we will see 1 win and 2 draws, finishing second in the group and advancing to the Round of 32,” Lee said. He expects a victory against the Czech Republic in the opening match, followed by draws with Mexico and South Africa.
Lee offered sharp analysis, noting that the Czech Republic squad features five players over 190 cm in height, based on their European playoff roster. “We must organize our defense well during set-piece situations,” he warned.
When asked about the player most likely to score South Korea’s first goal of the tournament, Lee singled out Oh Hyun-gyu. “He has sharp finishing, excellent positioning, and strong shooting ability,” Lee praised.
South Korea, led by head coach Hong Myung-bo, will open their campaign on June 12 at 11 a.m. (Korea time) against the Czech Republic. They then face Mexico on June 19 at 10 a.m. and South Africa on June 25 at 10 a.m. in the group stage. The 2026 FIFA World Cup runs from June 11 to July 19.
대한민국, 멕시코-남아공-체코와 A조 
