Choi Minjeong and Kim Gilli of short track, Major League Baseball player Lee Junghoo, national football team stars Son Heungmin and Lee Kangin, and "shuttlecock queen" An Seyoung are among the faces expected to shine in Korean sports in 2026. Yoo Seungmin, President of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee, even pledged full support in his New Year's address, declaring, "We will make 2026 the Year of K-Sports." Starting with the Milan-Cortina d'Ampezzo Winter Olympics (February 6-22), the year will see a series of major events: the World Baseball Classic (WBC, March 5-17), the FIFA North and Central America World Cup (June 11-July 19), and the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games (September 19-October 4). Restoring national pride is a key goal for both the Winter Olympics and the WBC, while the expanded 48-nation World Cup will require meticulous strategies to achieve Korea's objectives.
What Are the Major International Sports Events This Year?
The goal for the Milan Winter Olympics is to return to the top 10 in the overall rankings. Since finishing 10th at the 1992 Albertville Games, where short track was first included as an official event, Korea has established itself as a winter sports powerhouse. At the 2010 Vancouver Games, Korea achieved its best-ever result, ranking 5th. The only times Korea fell outside the top 10 since Albertville were at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games (14th), the 2014 Sochi Games (13th), and the 2022 Beijing Games (14th). The most recent Beijing Games were, in fact, Korea's worst performance to date.
Return to the Top 10 at the Winter Olympics... Expectations for Choi Minjeong, Kim Gilli, and Others
Leading the charge to restore Korea's honor is the world's strongest short track team. The biggest spotlight is on women's team captain Choi Minjeong, the "queen of short track," as she aims for her third consecutive Olympic gold in the women's 1500m. Kim Gilli is considered her strongest rival and the most likely contender to break this streak. In the 2025-2026 International Skating Union (ISU) women's 1500m rankings, Kim Gilli is ranked first, followed by Courtney Sarault of Canada in second, and Choi Minjeong in third. On the men's side, attention is on Lim Jongun, who is ranked second in the 1000m and eighth in the 1500m in this season's ISU rankings. Although disqualifications due to lack of experience have affected his standings, he is still regarded as a strong gold medal contender.
WBC National Team Player Lee Junghoo: A Chance to Restore Pride
The WBC is an even more critical stage for restoring national pride than the Winter Olympics. Korea finished third in both the inaugural 2006 tournament and the 2009 edition, but has suffered disappointing group stage exits in the last three tournaments since 2013.
Overcoming the "Taiwan jinx" is a particular challenge. While Taiwan was once considered a lesser opponent, Korea has recently struggled against them. At the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games, Korea won the gold medal but lost 0-4 to Taiwan in the group stage. In the 2024 WBSC Premier12, Korea failed to advance to the Super Round after being unable to recover from a shock defeat in the opening game.
In this year's tournament, Korea will face Japan, Taiwan, Australia, and the Czech Republic in the group stage. With Japan, featuring Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, favored to top the group, Korea is expected to engage in a fierce battle with Taiwan for a spot in the knockout stage.
Son Heungmin and Lee Kangin: The World Cup as a Stage for a New Revival
The North and Central America World Cup will be co-hosted for the first time by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with the number of participating nations expanded to 48. Korea has been placed in Group A alongside Mexico, South Africa, and the winner of the European playoff. With many experts calling this one of the most favorable group draws in history, playing all three group matches in Mexico is also seen as an advantage for coach Hong Myungbo's squad. However, a new variable is that the top eight third-place teams from the group stage will also advance to the knockout rounds, which now start from the round of 32. With the scenarios growing more complex, Korea will need far more sophisticated strategies than before.
There is also keen interest in Son Heungmin's record as he competes in his fourth World Cup. So far, he has scored three goals and provided one assist in ten World Cup matches. One more goal will see him surpass Ahn Junghwan and Park Jisung to become Korea's all-time top World Cup scorer.
If Korea reaches the round of 16, Son's total appearances will rise to 15, moving him past Park Jisung and into second place all-time behind coach Hong Myungbo. Fans are also eager to see how Lee Kangin, who has gained big-match experience at Paris Saint-Germain, will perform in his second World Cup.
An Seyoung Eyes Gold at the Asian Games... The Fruit of Hard Work
At the Asian Games, China has traditionally dominated, with Korea and Japan battling for second place. However, with Japan hosting this year, the competition is expected to be even fiercer. Korea maintained second place overall for five consecutive Games from the 1998 Bangkok Games to the 2014 Incheon Games, but slipped to third behind Japan at both the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang and 2023 Hangzhou Games.
An Seyoung, the "shuttlecock queen," is considered Korea's most certain gold medal hope. Having won both the women's singles and doubles at the 2022 Hangzhou Games, she will be seeking her second consecutive Asian Games double crown.
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