Kim Min-jae plays in a World Cup qualifying match against Iraq in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, Oct. 15, 2024. Korea Times photo by Choi Joo-yeon

Bayern Munich defender Kim Min-jae will not be able to play for Korea in upcoming World Cup qualifying matches due to a nagging Achilles injury.

The Korea Football Association (KFA) announced Saturday it has dropped the center back from the men's national squad due to Achilles tendinitis. Korea will host Oman next Thursday and then Jordan on March 25 in the third round of the Asian qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

"We decided Kim Min-jae would need to take time to receive treatment on his left Achilles tendinitis and rehab during the international break," the KFA said in a note sent to the media. "We will decide later whether a replacement player will be called up."

Kim, widely considered the best center back in Asia, has been battling through the injury for weeks, though he has only missed two out of the club's 25 matches in the Bundesliga so far. Kim has also started in 11 matches in the UEFA Champions League and three more at the DFB-Pokal cup competition.

The KFA's announcement came hours after Kim's club had announced on their website that the player "won't be available for Bayern for the time being."

At a press conference Friday, Bayern head coach Vincent Kompany was quoted as saying: "We hope he's not out for too long, but definitely for the next couple of weeks. It's about managing his workload."

Kim's absence leaves Korea with three center backs: Cho Yu-min of Sharjah, Jung Seung-hyun of Al-Wasl and Kwon Kyung-won of Khor Fakkan.

Coached by Hong Myung-bo, Korea lead Group B in the third round with 14 points on four wins and two draws. The top two teams from each of the three groups will punch their tickets to the 2026 World Cup, and Korea can get it done over the next two matches at home. (Yonhap)