Birmingham City Midfielder Delays Shoulder Surgery to Play in World Cup

Seung-Ho Paik will miss 3 weeks but aims to represent South Korea this summer

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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Birmingham City midfielder Seung-Ho Paik has decided to delay surgery on his dislocated shoulder in order to continue playing for his club and represent South Korea at the upcoming World Cup. Paik first suffered the injury three months ago against Middlesborough, and reaggravated it in a recent match against West Bromwich Albion. While he will miss around 3 weeks, the decision was made to take a conservative approach to allow Paik to potentially feature for his national team this summer.

Why it matters

Paik's decision to delay surgery highlights the difficult balancing act players face between club and country commitments, especially with major tournaments like the World Cup on the horizon. Birmingham City will be without a key midfielder for several weeks, but the opportunity to play in the World Cup appears to be the priority for Paik.

The details

Paik first dislocated his shoulder against Middlesborough three months ago. He reaggravated the injury early in Birmingham City's 0-0 draw with West Bromwich Albion. After consulting with a specialist, the decision was made for Paik to delay surgery and instead focus on a 3-week rehabilitation program that would allow him to potentially return to action and represent South Korea at the World Cup this summer.

  • Paik first dislocated his shoulder against Middlesborough three months ago.
  • Paik reaggravated the injury early in Birmingham City's 0-0 draw with West Bromwich Albion.
  • Paik is expected to be back available for selection or training in around 3 weeks.

The players

Seung-Ho Paik

A midfielder for Birmingham City who has decided to delay shoulder surgery in order to continue playing for his club and represent South Korea at the upcoming World Cup.

Chris Davies

The manager of Birmingham City, who provided an update on Paik's injury status and recovery timeline.

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What they’re saying

“Paik has seen a specialist and his programme now is, I think, maybe another three or so weeks until he can possibly be back available again for selection or training.”

— Chris Davies, Birmingham City Manager (yahoo.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights the difficult decisions players face in balancing club and country commitments, especially with major tournaments like the World Cup on the horizon. Paik's decision to delay surgery in order to potentially represent South Korea shows the importance of the World Cup, but also raises questions about the long-term health implications of his shoulder injury.