South Korea World Cup squad 2022: Son Heung-min included but 'final decision' to be made

Captain and star player in a race against time to be fit after undergoing surgery on a facial fracture

South Korea's Son Heung-min celebrates after their 2-0 World Cup qualifying win over Iran at Seoul World Cup Stadium on March 24, 2022. Getty

Son Heung-min celebrates with his South Korea teammates after the match. Getty

Hwang Ui-Jo of South Korea challenges Iran goalkeeper Amir Abed Zadeh. Getty

South Korea's Son Heung-min celebrates scoring their first goal. Reuters

South Korea's Kwon Chang-hoon attempts to charge down a clearance by Iran goalkeeper Amir Abed Zadeh. AFP

South Korea's Son Heung-min celebrates after scoring. EPA

South Korea's Son Heung-Min under pressure from Shojae Khalilzadeh of Iran. Getty

South Korea's Kim Young-gwon celebrates after scoring the second. AFP

South Korea's Son Heung-min and Amirhossein Hosseinzadeh of Iran. AP

South Korea's Son Heung-min celebrates after scoring. EPA

Son Heung-min has been included in South Korea's squad for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar but manager Paulo Bento admitted a "final decision" will be made over his involvement.

South Korea's captain and talisman suffered a fracture around his left eye during a Champions League match for Tottenham and then had surgery last week.

"We are in contact with him and Tottenham's medical department," said South Korea's Portuguese coach Paulo Bento as he named his squad.

"About the exact day he can train with the team, we don't have that information. We need to wait, we need to analyse day by day his situation.

"We have time to decide. The most important (thing is that), he recovers as well as possible, he feels comfortable and then we will take the final decision."

Bento named a 27th player, forward Oh Hyeon-gyu, who will train with the team in Qatar and could replace Son if he does not make it.

South Korea's opening match is against Uruguay on November 24.

Son, who has scored 35 goals in 106 international appearances, wrote on social media this week that "I can't wait to represent our beautiful country, see you soon".

South Korea also play Ghana and Portugal in Group H.

A South Korean team missing Son and other Europe-based players beat Iceland 1-0 in a home friendly on Friday.

South Korea World Cup squad

Goalkeepers: Kim Seung-gyu, Song Bum-keun, Jo Hyeon-woo

Defenders: Kwon Kyung-won, Kim Moon-hwan, Kim Min-jae, Kim Young-gwon, Kim Jin-su, Kim Tae-hwan, Yoon Jong-gyu, Cho Yu-min, Hong Chul

Midfielders: Kwon Chang-hoon, Na Sang-ho, Paik Seung-ho, Lee Kang-in, Lee Jae-sung, Jeong Woo-yeong, Hwang In-beom, Hwang Hee-chan, Song Min-kyu, Son Jun-ho, Na Sang-ho

Forwards: Son Heung-min, Cho Gue-sung, Hwang Ui-jo