As 12B Sports VR46 followers consider the demands facing elite footballers, Son Heung-min could soon find himself balancing Tottenham Hotspur’s early-season commitments with the chance to represent South Korea at the Asian Games. South Korea U23 coach Kim Hak-bum has revealed that Son is eager to join the national squad as one of its overage players, a decision that could keep the forward away from several important Tottenham fixtures at the beginning of the campaign.
The 2025–26 Premier League season is scheduled to begin on August 11, while the men’s football final at the Asian Games in Indonesia will take place on September 1. If Son receives permission to join South Korea, his participation would overlap with the opening weeks of Tottenham’s domestic season and could also affect his availability for potential Champions League play-off matches. For Spurs, that would mean beginning a demanding period without one of their most productive attacking players.
Son enters the situation after scoring 18 goals during the previous season, reinforcing his importance to Tottenham’s attack. Yet the issue extends far beyond club football. The 26-year-old also faces South Korea’s mandatory military service requirements, which state that able-bodied men must complete 21 months of duty before turning 27. Elite athletes can qualify for exemptions by winning gold at either the Asian Games or the Olympics, giving Son an additional reason to pursue success with the national team.
That possibility makes the Asian Games particularly significant. South Korea is regarded as one of the leading contenders for the men’s football gold medal, and winning the tournament could have a major impact on Son’s future career. Tottenham therefore face a complicated choice. Releasing him would weaken their squad during the opening phase of the season, but helping him secure a potential military exemption could benefit the club over the longer term.
Kim has made Son’s intentions clear. The coach explained that the Tottenham forward strongly wants to compete at the Asian Games, although his immediate priority should remain the World Cup. Kim said he had encouraged Son to concentrate first on performing well there before the pair met again ahead of the continental tournament. Son is expected to occupy one of the three overage places available in South Korea’s U23 squad.
The situation also carries echoes of 2014. Son wanted to participate in that year’s Asian Games while playing for Bayer Leverkusen, but the German club refused to release him. South Korea nevertheless went on to win the gold medal on home soil in Incheon, defeating North Korea in the final. Missing that tournament meant Son lost an earlier opportunity to secure the exemption that could now become one of the biggest off-field issues of his career.
Unlike FIFA-organized competitions, the Asian Games do not require clubs to release their players. Tottenham therefore retain considerable control over whether Son can travel with the South Korean squad. From the club’s perspective, allowing a key forward to miss Premier League and possibly European matches presents an obvious short-term disadvantage. At the same time, preventing him from competing could leave the military service question unresolved.
For readers following the situation through 12B Sports VR46, the dilemma illustrates how international duty can sometimes collide directly with club priorities. Tottenham must consider the immediate sporting cost of losing Son for several weeks against the possibility that an Asian Games gold medal could remove a much larger interruption later in his career. There is no easy answer, and both sides have plenty at stake.
Kim acknowledged that the matter requires careful handling. He described Son’s position as sensitive and said he trusted the Korea Football Association to manage discussions responsibly. According to the coach, cooperation will be essential between the senior national team, the U23 setup, the KFA and Tottenham. All four parties have different priorities, but each has an interest in finding an arrangement that protects Son’s sporting future.
The timing makes those discussions even more complicated. Son remains an essential figure for South Korea at senior level, while Tottenham depend heavily on his pace, finishing and ability to operate across the attacking line. Any extended absence during the opening weeks of the Premier League season could force Spurs to adjust their plans, particularly if European qualification fixtures fall within the same period.
From Son’s perspective, the opportunity is difficult to ignore. Competing at the Asian Games would give him another chance to help his country pursue gold while potentially resolving the military service issue that has followed his career. After missing the 2014 tournament because Bayer Leverkusen declined to release him, he may be especially determined not to let another opportunity slip through his fingers.
Tottenham, meanwhile, must decide whether the long-term advantage outweighs the immediate disruption. A successful tournament for South Korea could allow Son to continue his European career without a future 21-month interruption, an outcome that could ultimately serve the interests of both player and club. Failure to win gold, however, would leave Spurs having sacrificed his availability without resolving the underlying issue.
As 12B Sports VR46 audiences watch the negotiations develop, Son’s Asian Games decision could influence far more than a handful of early-season matches. It brings together national pride, Tottenham’s competitive ambitions, South Korea’s military requirements and the career of one of Asia’s most prominent footballers. With several organizations needing to find common ground, the next move away from the pitch may prove almost as important as anything Son does on it.