South Korea captain, LA star Son Heung-min backed by coach amid rift rumour

What the report says

South Korea coach Robert Moreno has kept Son Heung-min as captain despite speculation of tension between the LAFC forward and senior teammates, according to Al Jazeera’s report published on 29 October 2026. Moreno announced Son in South Korea’s squad for upcoming friendlies against Saudi Arabia and Qatar, signaling that the 34-year-old remains central to the national team’s plans.

The article says the coach also selected several established Europe-based players, including Kim Min-jae, Hwang Hee-chan and Hwang In-beom, amid reports that some members of the squad had considered stepping away last month. Moreno said he has spent significant time speaking with players since taking charge on an interim basis after South Korea’s disappointing World Cup campaign in North America. He argued that differing opinions are not unusual in strong teams and said what matters is how those differences are handled.

The reported friction became public after Bayern Munich defender Kim Min-jae reacted angrily to being substituted in a 0-0 friendly against Venezuela, then urged players to work harder after the match. That fueled talk of division within the squad, though Moreno insisted the team is “healthy.” South Korea’s football association has also asked fans to stop personal attacks on players.

The report adds that Moreno’s contract is due to end after the two friendlies, with a possible extension through the Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia in January. The situation matters because South Korea is trying to steady the team after its World Cup exit and rebuild unity before major continental competition.