South Korea coach Hong Myung-bo quits after World Cup exit

MEXICO CITY: South Korean football has been plunged into uncertainty after head coach Hong Myung-bo announced his resignation following the national team’s disappointing group-stage exit from the FIFA World Cup 2026.

The decision came just hours after sharp criticism from Lee Jae Myung, who publicly condemned the team’s performance and promised sweeping reforms to the country’s sports administration.

For a nation with a proud footballing tradition, the early elimination has been viewed as a major setback. South Korea entered the tournament with high expectations and were widely tipped to progress from a group featuring Mexico, South Africa and Czech Republic.

Instead, the Taeguk Warriors suffered narrow 1-0 defeats against South Africa and Mexico. Their only victory came in a 2-1 win over the Czech Republic, leaving them dependent on results elsewhere to sneak into the knockout rounds as one of the tournament’s best third-placed teams.

When those results failed to go their way on Saturday, South Korea’s World Cup dream came to an abrupt end.

Facing reporters a day later, Hong accepted full responsibility for the disappointing campaign.

“Every decision I made was with Korean football in mind,” he said. “I cannot claim every choice was correct, but I always acted in what I believed were the best interests of the national team.”

The resignation marks another painful chapter in Hong’s coaching career. The former national team captain had also overseen South Korea’s unsuccessful World Cup campaign in 2014, making this the second time he has left the tournament under intense scrutiny.

One of the most controversial moments of the campaign came when Hong left veteran captain Son Heung-min out of the crucial match against South Africa. South Korea needed only a draw to stay on course for qualification, but the tactical gamble failed and triggered widespread criticism from fans and media.

The backlash intensified after President Lee described the outcome as unacceptable and suggested that poor leadership and questionable decision-making had contributed to the team’s struggles.

Despite the criticism, Hong struck an emotional tone in his farewell remarks, insisting his connection to Korean football remains strong.

“Even though I am leaving the national team, I am not abandoning Korean football,” he said. “I will continue supporting the players and hope the national team can regain the trust and love of the people.”

With Hong’s departure confirmed and questions surrounding the future of Son Heung-min, South Korean football now faces a crucial rebuilding phase as it looks toward a new era after one of its most disappointing World Cup campaigns in recent memory.