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Returns to National Team After Knee Surgery and Complications
Set for His Second World Cup
‘2022 Qatar World Cup hero’ Cho Gyu-seong (Midtjylland) vowed he’ll score with his feet at the upcoming 2026 CONCACAF World Cup finals.
On the 28th (local time), Cho met with South Korean reporters during the national team’s pre-camp at the Zions Bank Training Center in Herriman, Utah.
He surged into the spotlight at the Qatar World Cup by scoring a brace of headers against Ghana in Korea’s 2-3 loss. He remains the only South Korean to net multiple goals in a single World Cup match.
Cho then moved to Europe and made an immediate impact. In his first season with Midtjylland (2023–24), he scored 10 goals and added 2 assists in 21 appearances.
But after knee surgery he faced serious complications, forcing him off the pitch for more than a season as he underwent treatment and rehabilitation.
His place at a second World Cup was far from certain, but coach Hong Myung-bo called him up and Cho will join the squad for the CONCACAF finals.
“Even during rehab, I wanted to get back quickly and rejoin the national team,” he said. “I still think about the goals against Ghana whenever I join the squad. Scoring felt incredible,” he added with a smile.
Asked what’s different this time, he said, “I’m focusing more on my strengths now — fighting for position inside the box and holding the ball up. I want to emphasize those parts of my game.” He added confidently, “If I score this time, I want it to be with my foot, not my head.”
He also had a message for Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain), who provided the cross that set him up at the last World Cup.
“Every time we gather, I ask him to deliver lots of crosses. I’ll remind him again if he’s here,” he said, laughing.
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