South Korea Changes Jersey Names to Full First Names at 2026 World Cup

South Korea's national football team made an unconventional decision for the 2026 World Cup by displaying players' full first names on their jerseys instead of the traditional surname format. The change was designed to help international audiences distinguish between players sharing common Korean surnames such as Kim, Lee, and Park. The alteration became immediately noticeable during South Korea's opening match against Czech Republic on June 11, when star player Son Heung-min appeared on his jersey as "Heungmin," causing confusion among viewers searching for the familiar "Son" surname.

According to the Korean Cultural Center, which falls under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the modification addresses a practical challenge: many Korean surnames are extremely common, making player identification difficult for Western audiences unfamiliar with Korean naming conventions. In South Korean tradition, the family name precedes the given name, reflecting historical Confucian influences and the cultural significance placed on family lineage and ancestry. The surname carries substantial meaning, often indicating a person's clan (shijok) and regional or historical associations. With multiple players bearing the same surname—the squad includes Kim Seung-gyu, Kim Min-jae, Kim Moon-hwan, Kim Tae-hyeon, and Kim Jin-gyu—the use of first names provides clearer differentiation.

The jersey change represents one of several tactical strategies South Korea has employed to gain competitive advantage. The team has also adopted a practice of swapping squad numbers among players to confuse opponents, capitalizing on the observation that Western audiences may struggle with identifying players on the field. This tactic, initiated during the 2018 World Cup qualifying cycle, was temporarily abandoned under Portuguese coach Paulo Bento in 2022 but resumed under current manager Hong Myung-bo. In pre-World Cup friendlies, Son wore the number 13, but changed to his traditional number 7 for the tournament opener.

Hong Myung-bo, who assumed control of the team in July 2024, has also sought to modify the squad's formation from the traditional 4-2-3-1 setup toward a more defensive configuration employing three or five defenders. The squad continues to rely on experienced players like Son Heung-min and Lee Kang-in, though only five of the 26-player roster compete in Europe's top five leagues. South Korea's unconventional preparations extended to managing media relations, with the team severing ties with World Cup press coverage following incidents of journalists mocking captain Son Heung-min.