South Korean football in crisis after World Cup exit

South Korean football is in turmoil following the national team's group-stage elimination from the 2026 World Cup, with head coach Hong Myung-bo resigning hours after the defeat and the country's president publicly condemning the sport's governance.

"I am genuinely very sorry," Hong said on Sunday as he stepped down, just hours after the team's elimination was confirmed. The legendary former player, who captained South Korea to the semi-finals in 2002, was the first casualty but not expected to be the last, as the nation reacts with fury. Former Manchester United star Park Ji-sung said: "It is miserable that we've come to this moment where we have to look back and ask why we ended up here."

Anger and threats

The anger has led to reported death threats against the coach, and the arrival locations of players and staff returning to South Korea have been kept secret. But the reaction is not solely due to a dismal fortnight in Mexico; it has been building for some time.

Group stage failure

Failure in Group A brought fan anger to boiling point. South Korea started with a promising 2-1 win over the Czech Republic but then lost 1-0 to Mexico, despite a squad containing Son Heung-min, Lee Kang-in of Paris St-Germain, and Bayern Munich's Kim Min-jae. Needing a point against South Africa to secure second place, Hong left captain and talisman Son on the bench, and the team slumped to defeat. Former Tottenham Hotspur defender Lee Young-pyo described it on television as "the worst match by a Korean football team in the 21st century."

After the game, a reporter asked Hong if there had been an outbreak of food poisoning in the camp, as there could be no explanation for such a performance. To make matters worse, South Korea had to wait more than three days in their training camp to discover whether they would squeeze through as one of the best third-placed finishers or go home.

Camp tensions

The camp had not been an especially happy place. Earlier in June, media personnel were overheard on camera mocking Son's military record. The former Tottenham star won exemption from the country's 21-month mandatory military service by being part of the team that took gold at the 2018 Asian Games. In response, the players boycotted domestic media duties for several days.

Son turns 34 in July, and it would not be a surprise if he soon calls time on his international career. There will be no public return to South Korea, as the welcome ceremony planned at Incheon International Airport was cancelled. The captain and the players have, however, escaped most of the public ire, with the focus shifting to how the sport is governed in the country.

Presidential intervention

The focus on governance was highlighted by an extraordinary statement posted on social media on Sunday by President Lee Jae-myung. The country's leader said he felt "not just confusion but utter bewilderment at the unexpected outcome," adding that the early exit "appears to be a failure of organisation and personnel." The statement continued: "When favouritism and cronyism take precedence over competence in selecting a commander, the result is as predictable as fire burning paper."

Chung Mong-gyu, president of the Korea Football Association (KFA) since 2013, was criticised for going outside usual hiring procedures to give Hong the job in July 2024, just as he had in appointing Jurgen Klinsmann over a year earlier. Questions were raised about the fairness and transparency of the process. Fans reacted badly, and Hong was booed in his first game in charge against Palestine in Seoul in September 2024. The negative feeling never disappeared.

It wasn't just the supporters. The Ministry of Sports conducted an investigation into the KFA and, in November 2024, recommended the suspension of Chung and other officials. The KFA obtained a court injunction to allow the president to run, and win, a fourth term in February 2025.