Son Heung-min’s recent dip in form is a concern for the South Korean national team, but it is seen as good news for the South African squad.
South African outlet ‘Kickoff’ reported on May 11 (KST) that “ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, the slump of South Korean star player Son Heung-min is a positive for South Africa. Son is struggling to regain his scoring touch at LAFC. He has shown a lack of goal-scoring form and sharpness, with no goals yet in Major League Soccer. South Korea is hoping Son finds his scoring rhythm before the World Cup. His struggles are an encouraging sign for South Africa, Mexico, and the Czech Republic.”
Despite the goal drought, Son leads the MLS assist rankings. In the match against Houston Dynamo, he provided a secondary assist on Nathan Ordaz’s goal, recording his ninth assist of the season. With nine assists in MLS, he sits alone atop the assist leaderboard. Since manager Marko Dos Santos took over, Son has taken on a playmaker role, focusing more on creating chances than scoring, and his consistent assists show he is fulfilling his duties effectively.
However, the lack of goals remains a worry. He scored twice in the 2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup but has yet to find the net in MLS. Son established himself as one of the Premier League’s top attackers at Tottenham Hotspur and showcased dominant scoring form after joining LAFC, netting 12 goals in 13 matches including playoffs in just the latter half of the season. Even with age, his scoring instinct seemed intact, but that has not been the case this season.
Having played 10 MLS matches without a goal, this is a concern for both LAFC and Hong Myung-bo’s national team. Hong’s squad faces South Africa, Mexico, and the Czech Republic in the World Cup group stage, aiming to advance. The prolonged scoring slump of key player Son is a serious issue. While Oh Hyun-gyu is showing fine form at Beşiktaş, and attackers like Cho Gue-sung and Hwang Hee-chan are available, Son remains the core, drawing significant concern.
Moreover, LAFC is struggling after failing to reach the Champions Cup final and experiencing shaky form in MLS. Following the loss to Toluca, they conceded four goals against Houston, revealing a defensive collapse. After the Houston match, Dos Santos said, “Whenever we gave up possession, it seemed like we didn’t have the energy or ability to face Houston’s attackers. The LAFC players are putting in effort, with good attitude and mentality. But the whole team looks drained. I sometimes feel that atmosphere within the club. This is a difficult period,” sparking debate that the slump is more about the squad than tactics.
Son is set to join the national team soon for the World Cup after a grueling schedule balancing MLS and the Champions Cup. Scoring before joining is the ideal scenario for Hong’s side. Conversely, teams like South Africa hope Son continues his current struggles.
