Bae Jun-ho Earns Crucial Minutes for South Korea in World Cup Qualifier

South Korea faced a surprising challenge in their World Cup 2026 qualifying match against Palestine, settling for a 1-1 draw despite dominating possession and creating numerous chances. The match showcased the depth of South Korea’s talent pool, including Stoke City midfielder Bae Jun-ho, who made a brief appearance in the second half.

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A Tough Start for South Korea

The game started poorly for the South Koreans, as Palestine struck first in the 12th minute, taking a shock 1-0 lead. Despite being one of the world’s top teams, South Korea found themselves trailing early. However, Tottenham Hotspur’s Heung-Min Son quickly restored parity with a crucial equalizer in the 16th minute, ensuring the game was level heading into halftime.

Limited Impact from Bae Jun-ho

Bae Jun-ho began the match on the bench and was introduced in the 72nd minute as South Korea sought a winning goal. Unfortunately, the Stoke City star had limited opportunities to influence the game.

Despite his talent and potential, Bae struggled to find his rhythm in a match where South Korea was pressing for a late winner. The team generated several chances but lacked the finishing touch to secure victory, leaving the scoreline locked at 1-1 at full time.

Return to Stoke City

With the international break now behind him, Bae Jun-ho will return to Stoke City and refocus on the EFL Championship under the guidance of manager Narcís Pelach. While his role in the South Korean squad was limited this time, the experience will serve as valuable preparation as he aims to continue developing and contributing to both club and country in the coming months.

Stoke City fans will hope to see Bae use this international stint as motivation to strengthen his performances and help the team climb the league table in their pursuit of playoff contention.