South Korea national team head coach Hong Myung-bo has resigned following the country's disappointing exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as President Lee Jae-Myung demanded a government investigation into the team's performance.
World Cup Campaign Ends in Disappointment
The Asian Tigers were drawn in Group A alongside co-hosts Mexico, Czechia, and South Africa. They opened their campaign with a comeback victory over Czechia before suffering a 2-0 defeat to Mexico in their second match. In their final group-stage fixture, South Korea lost 1-0 to South Africa, finishing third in the group with three points. The team ranked 10th among third-placed teams, failing to advance to the knockout rounds.
Hong Myung-bo Accepts Responsibility
Hong Myung-bo, a former South Korea international who guided the team through an unbeaten qualification campaign, accepted full responsibility for the early exit. According to the BBC, he stated it was the right time to step aside. "Even though I am leaving the national team, I am not abandoning Korean football altogether," he said. "I will cheer for the national team from the bottom of my heart and hope that the team will once again earn the trust and love of the people." Hong admitted he was struggling to understand what had gone wrong as the nation nervously awaited results from other matches.
President Lee Jae-Myung Orders Investigation
President Lee Jae-Myung has called for an investigation into the national team's performance. According to Al Jazeera, he instructed the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to investigate the circumstances surrounding the campaign and recommend measures to prevent a similar outcome in future tournaments. "When favouritism and cronyism take precedence over competence in selecting a commander, the result is as predictable as fire burning paper," Lee said. "Given that significant national taxpayer funds and state support resources are invested even in World Cup participation, I ask that the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism thoroughly investigate the precise circumstances of this incident, analyse its causes, and develop thorough measures for preventing recurrence and improvement."
Security Concerns Amid Death Threat
South Korean police are monitoring security threats at Incheon Airport and other locations after an online death threat was made against Hong upon his return to Korea. Meanwhile, South Africa coach Hugo Broos also faced questions about his future after Bafana Bafana's dramatic 92nd-minute defeat to Canada in the Round of 32, ending a historic campaign for South African football.
