Seoul, June 5 -- South Korea head coach Hong Myung-bo believes the country's footballers no longer fear competing on the biggest stage, citing the growing number of players performing in Europe as a key factor in the national team's development ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026.

Hong, one of the most iconic figures in Korean football history, is preparing to make his seventh FIFA World Cup appearance either as a player or coach, a milestone that would surpass the record of Brazilian great Mario Zagallo.

The 57-year-old first appeared at the World Cup as a player in 1990 and went on to represent South Korea in four consecutive editions until 2002. He later attended the 2006 tournament as an assistant coach and led the team as head coach a...