South Korea captain Son Heung-min led the team to a 3-0 triumph over China, marking their second consecutive win in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Son showcased his prowess by scoring two goals, including a penalty, and providing an assist in the victory that silenced the 40,000-strong crowd in Shenzhen.
The match saw Son's first-half brilliance, converting a penalty after Wolverhampton Wanderers' Hwang Hee-chan was fouled in the box. Son then exhibited his aerial skills with a clever header from a corner just before halftime. The victory was sealed with a late bullet header by Jung Seung-hyun, capitalizing on a free-kick delivered by Son.
South Korea now leads Group C with a perfect six points, following their earlier 5-0 victory against Singapore. With Son in top form, the Koreans dominated throughout the game, leaving China outclassed.
The win adds to South Korea's strong start in the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign, building on their impressive performance in the 2022 World Cup, where they reached the last 16.
In other Asian qualifiers, Iraq secured a 1-0 victory over Vietnam, with substitute Mohanad Ali scoring in the 97th minute to top Group F. Meanwhile, Iran had to settle for a 2-2 draw against Uzbekistan, and North Korea and Tajikistan both claimed convincing 6-1 victories against Myanmar and Pakistan, respectively.
As the competition unfolds, the top two teams from each of the nine groups in Asian qualifying will advance to the final stage of World Cup qualification in North America. Later fixtures on Tuesday include Australia vs. Palestine, Japan vs. Syria in Jeddah, and India hosting Qatar.
