Suspended defensive back Hong Jeong-ho has been replaced on the national men's football team.

The Korea Football Association said Kim Min-hyeok of Japanese club Sagan Tosu will take Hong's spot on the 23-man roster in the Asian qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Hong was sent off on two yellow cards in South Korea's 3-2 win over Qatar Thursday, and earned an automatic suspension for the next match against Iran in Tehran.

The KFA instead went with Kim, who hasn't played for the senior national team.

South Korea are in second place in Group A in the ongoing third round, with two wins and a draw. Iran have the same record but remain ahead thanks to a superior goal difference.

The top two teams automatically qualify for the World Cup in Russia. South Korea are trying to make it nine in a row at the tournament. (Yonhap)