The South Korea national football team has announced that Hwang In-beom will miss the March internationals due to injury as they prepare for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Korea Football Association (KFA) confirmed on March 19 that the 30-year-old midfielder will not participate in the upcoming friendlies against Côte d’Ivoire and Austria, prioritizing player welfare. Hwang sustained an ankle ligament injury during Feyenoord's Eredivisie match on March 16. Initial fears suggested a serious injury, but further examinations revealed that he avoided more severe damage. His absence creates a significant void for the national team, but an expanded squad of 27 players has already been named, allowing the team to proceed without a replacement. The national team will depart for Europe on March 23, with K League players and overseas-based players expected to join. South Korea is set to face Côte d’Ivoire in Milton Keynes on March 28 and Austria in Vienna on April 1, as they ramp up preparations for the World Cup.