While Son Heung-min has his eyes set on the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the MLS superstar also can’t help but think about a future that may include a family of his own one day.
“I think I’m old enough to have family now, but we’ll see, we never know,” Heung-min, 33, exclusively shared with Us Weekly while celebrating his role as Hyundai’s Global Brand Ambassador. “To be fair, I love kids, so we never know what’s gonna happen.”
It’s a slight change from what the LAFC soccer player told The Guardian years ago. During a 2019 interview with the publication, Heung-min recalled the advice his father had given him.
“When you marry, the No. 1 will be family, wife and kids, and then football,” he said at the time. “I want to make sure that while I play at the top level, football can be No. 1.”
If and when Heung-min has kids, don’t count on him to be his son or daughter’s soccer coach.
“No chance, no chance,” he told Us with a laugh. “This, I can give you a straight answer.”
Heung-min continued, “I’ll be a good team dad. Good [dad] looking after my kids.”
Before becoming one of the biggest soccer stars in the world, Heung-min recalled going to practice with his own father, Son Woong-jung, who was also a former soccer player.
“I still have good, good memories. Obviously, my dad was an ex-footballer, so he was taking a session every single day,” Heung-min recalled. “We didn’t take any days off. … It was hard, but it was pure joy with my dad every single day, working together. Most days, he was mad at me because I wasn’t good enough for him, but because of that, I’m here. … These stories I would love to share with the next generation.”
In addition to supporting Hyundai Motor Company’s “Next Starts Now” global marketing campaign, Heung-min is also an advocate of the brand’s “Be There With Hyundai” initiatives, which inspire youth athletes to dream big and stay connected to the game.
When he has the chance to interact with a next generation of soccer players, his advice is simple.
“Go out there, have fun, enjoy this moment,” he said. “Sometimes we are just too busy to work hard and sometimes you forget this joy, this moment. I would love to tell the next generation, ‘Just go out there, enjoy and have fun.”
As for sports fans who may be thinking about watching some soccer as World Cup fever heats up, Heung-min — who will serve as South Korea’s captain — says now is the time to jump right in.
“Don’t wait,” he proclaimed. “Don’t regret not watching it and then you have to wait four years. There’s some amazing next generation players, so you definitely should watch it and also cheer on South Korea.”
