South Korea will step up their preparation for the 2026 World Cup on Sunday, 31 May 2026 at 08:00 WIB, when they face Trinidad and Tobago in an international friendly match in Utah.

The Asian Tigers return to action for the first time since suffering two friendly defeats in March, while their opponents are still searching for a win after going six consecutive matches without victory.

Match Preview: South Korea vs Trinidad and Tobago

South Korea are set to play their first match on American soil ahead of the upcoming World Cup this Sunday, aiming to secure back-to-back wins as part of their final group stage preparations next month.

They qualified impressively for the summer tournament through the Asian qualifiers, winning all six matches in the second-round group and topping their third-round group unbeaten in 10 matches to secure progression.

After ending 2025 with three friendly wins, Hong Myung-bo’s side have yet to find their best form this year, losing both of their March friendlies — first a 4-0 defeat to Ivory Coast, followed by a narrow 1-0 loss to Austria.

They now arrive in the United States with their sights set on the tournament beginning in mid-June, preparing for their 11th consecutive World Cup appearance since 1986, having last reached the round of 16 in 2022 before being knocked out by Brazil.

Before taking on Group A opponents Czech Republic, Mexico, and South Africa in mid-June, South Korea will play two friendlies — against Trinidad and Tobago and El Salvador — hoping to build positive momentum with a win on Sunday.

Trinidad and Tobago, meanwhile, head to the U.S. for these friendlies without World Cup qualification to prepare for, looking instead to snap a winless streak dating back to October 2025.

The Soca Warriors advanced through the second round of the CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers but fell short in the third-round group stage, finishing third and missing out on both automatic and inter-confederation playoff spots.

Their campaign ended with three draws, failing to catch the top two teams, followed by a friendly defeat to Bolivia and two losses in the FIFA Series in March under new coach Derek King.

After a 4-1 defeat to Venezuela, Trinidad and Tobago drew 2-2 with Gabon in their final match, thanks to two goals from Levi Garcia, but eventually lost in a penalty shootout.

Now heading into two more friendlies, Derek King’s men will aim for a turnaround and hope to record their first win under his leadership when they take the field in Utah.

Team News: South Korea vs Trinidad and Tobago

South Korea will play their two friendlies with a 26-man World Cup squad, and Hong Myung-bo is expected to start with his strongest lineup to test his core players.

Star forward Son Heung-min joins from his MLS season with Los Angeles FC, where he has already provided eight assists in 13 league matches this year after scoring 12 goals in 13 games last season, taking his international goal tally to 54.

However, Lee Kang-in will not take part as he is on duty with Paris Saint-Germain for the UEFA Champions League final in Budapest, while Bayern Munich’s Kim Min-jae is set to marshal the defence in the World Cup.

For Trinidad and Tobago, goalkeeper Denzil Smith is likely to miss Sunday’s match, meaning Jabari Brice could start in goal or Teshorne Ragoo may make his debut.

Roald Mitchell, representing MLS club New York Red Bulls, is expected to continue leading the attack after starting in the FIFA Series.

Elsewhere, key player Levi Garcia — who scored twice in their last match and has 12 international goals — might also be left out of Derek King’s squad.

Predicted Lineups: South Korea vs Trinidad and Tobago

South Korea: S Kim; H Lee, M Kim, J Kim; Seol, Paik, I Hwang, T Lee; J Lee, Son, H Hwang

Trinidad and Tobago: Brice; Payne, Yearwood, Ngwenya, Powder; Garcia, Greene, David, Nakhid, Thomas; Mitchell

Score Prediction: South Korea vs Trinidad and Tobago

Sportsmole Version

As they begin their World Cup preparations on American soil, South Korea are expected to make a strong statement and comfortably defeat Trinidad and Tobago in Utah, even if they opt for player rotations throughout the match.

Predicted Score: South Korea 3-0 Trinidad and Tobago

TribunLombok Version

In terms of individual quality and team structure, South Korea remain far ahead of Trinidad and Tobago. With Son Heung-min as the main attacking engine, they possess a constant threat through both pace and finishing ability.

Although they suffered two recent friendly defeats, this match provides Hong Myung-bo an opportunity to test his best combinations ahead of the World Cup. The presence of players like Hwang Hee-chan and Lee Kang-in (even though absent here) highlights the squad’s depth across positions.

Trinidad and Tobago are still in transition under their new coach and have yet to find stability. Their recent winless run exposes defensive weaknesses, particularly when facing quick, high-pressure attacks from stronger teams.

Nonetheless, they retain potential to score through counterattacks and set-pieces, especially via Roald Mitchell, who remains an active forward presence. South Korea, however, have occasionally shown lapses in concentration during friendlies.

Despite that, the gap in quality and intensity between the two sides is expected to be evident throughout. South Korea are predicted to dominate possession and create numerous chances, while Trinidad and Tobago may only threaten sporadically.

Therefore, a convincing win for South Korea appears the most likely result, although conceding once in an open-tempo friendly remains possible.

Predicted Score: South Korea 3-1 Trinidad and Tobago