Hong Myung-bo, head coach of the Korean men's national football team, speaks at a press conference at the Korea Football Association House in Seoul, Sept. 30, announcing his squad for World Cup qualifying matches in October. Yonhap

Korea captain Son Heung-min is a question mark to play in two World Cup qualifying matches in October after sitting out his latest Premier League match with an injury, national team head coach Hong Myung-bo said Monday.

Hong unveiled his 26-man squad on Monday for the next pair of matches for Korea in Group B of the third round in the Asian World Cup qualification.

Korea will face Jordan at Amman International Stadium in Amman on Oct. 10. Five days later, they will host Iraq at Yongin Mireu Stadium in Yongin, some 40 kilometers south of Seoul.

The squad features some rising young stars based in Europe, including Stoke City midfielder Bae Jun-ho, a 21-year-old attacker who has been among his English club's best players since last year. Fellow midfielder Kwon Hyeok-kyu, who plays for Hibernian in Scotland, earned his first senior international callup.

Oh Hyeon-gyu, forward for the Belgian side KRC Genk, is on the national team for the first time since the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup in February.

Son was named to the team despite suffering a hamstring injury during a UEFA Europa League match against Qarabag in London last Thursday. Spurs head coach Ange Postecoglou said Son "felt fatigue in his hamstring" and he decided to hold him out against Manchester United because it was a quick turnaround after the Qarabag match.

Hong said he had spoken with Son, who told the national team boss that he was feeling better.

"Both he and his club feel that he is not fit to play at the moment. But we still have some time and we will see if he'll be able to play for his club (before the World Cup qualifiers)," Hong said at his press conference at the Korea Football Association (KFA) House. "I think he has had a grueling schedule, playing for both the national team and the club. The most important thing is his health and physical condition for the long run. Should we qualify for the 2026 World Cup, then his performance will be extremely crucial for our team. We will remain in touch with Son and his team and try to figure out a way to get the most out of him without running him into the ground."

Hong said he has other players who can play in Son's position on either wing.

"I am sure Son himself would love to play, even if he is not 100 percent. That's the way he has been," Hong said. "I know a lot of fans would love to see him play but I don't want to force the issue. We do have a Plan B in case Son can't play."

Compared to the team that played the first two Group B matches, Hong brought in seven new players. Bae, Kwon and Oh are in that group, as well as veteran goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu of Al-Shabab in Saudi Arabia. Kim hadn't played for Korea since suffering a knee injury during the Asian Cup in January.

Birmingham City midfielder Paik Seung-ho earned his first callup since the second round of the World Cup qualification in March this year.

In all, 17 players are based in either Europe or Middle East, and Hong said it was by design.

"We will be playing in the Middle East first, and I felt traveling from Europe to that region first is easier on the players, compared to coming straight to Korea. Without as much jetlag, they should be able to perform at a higher level," Hong said. "We also have some young players. Maybe they won't be able to contribute right away but they are good options for our future."

Son Heung-min of Tottenham Hotspur, center, receives medical attention after sustaining an injury during a UEFA Europa League match against Qarabag at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, Sept. 26. Reuters-Yonhap

Seoul World Cup Stadium had been chosen as the venue for the Iraq match but the KFA asked the AFC to switch to the Yongin stadium, citing poor pitch conditions at the Seoul venue.

"Our players wanted the field conditions to be the top priority when choosing the venue," Hong said. "Yongin has the best pitch among the options we had."

Korea had a goalless draw against Palestine and then beat Oman 3-1 in their first two Group B matches held earlier this month. With four points, they are in second place in Group B behind Jordan.

Jordan also have four points and have the same goal difference as Korea with +2, but they have scored one more goal than Korea with four.

Iraq also have four points and they are in third place due to their +1 goal difference.

Korea are the top-ranked team in Group B at No. 23, followed by Iraq at No. 55 and Jordan at No. 68.

There are three groups of six in the third round, and the top two teams from each group will qualify for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada. The third- and fourth-place teams from each group will move on to the fourth round.

Korea have played at every World Cup since 1986.

Hong, appointed in controversial circumstances in July, has failed to win back fans disgruntled over his hiring process. The KFA has been criticized for ignoring its own vetting process to bring Hong aboard and pleading with him to take the job after failing to come to terms with foreign-born candidates. Hong was heavily booed by home fans before, during and after the Palestine match on Sept. 5.

Hong and KFA President Chung Mong-gyu were called in as witnesses for a questioning session for the parliamentary committee on sports at the National Assembly last week.

The ministry of culture, sports and tourism is scheduled to announce interim results of its probe into the KFA's operations on Wednesday. (Yonhap)