Paik Seung-ho – South Korea
Paik spent seven years in Barcelona’s academy system before moving through Girona, Darmstadt 98 and Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors. His move to Birmingham City came in January 2024, and after relegation he stayed to help them win League One and return to the Championship.
Seung-ho is notable because he’s one of the few on the list who didn’t play in a big cup game, or as a youngster. He featured for Birmingham City in the 2024/25 season, playing 180 league minutes, and coming on in the FA Cup. He wasn’t the only World Cup player to appear for the Blues either: Lyndon Dykes featured.
Seung-ho made his South Korea debut in 2019 and scored on the biggest stage three years later, coming off the bench to strike against Brazil in the last 16 of the 2022 World Cup. He also won Asian Games gold as captain of the under-24 side.
South Korea have Czechia first in Guadalajara on June 11, then South Africa in Atlanta on June 18. Their group ends with the big one, Mexico in Mexico City on June 24.
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