South Korea faces football crisis after World Cup exit

By Sanjay Menon — 29 June 2026 — 3 min read

Hong Myung-bo resigned as head coach of South Korea on Sunday, following the team’s elimination from the 2026 World Cup. His resignation came hours after President Lee Jae-myung issued a statement criticising the team’s performance and the governance of football in the country. The early exit has sparked widespread anger and calls for significant changes within Korean football.

The team’s departure from the tournament marked Hong Myung-bo’s second early World Cup exit as coach, having also led the team in 2014. South Korea, also known as the Taeguk Warriors, were in Group A, where they secured a 2-1 victory against the Czech Republic. However, subsequent 1-0 losses to Mexico and South Africa meant they finished with three points, failing to advance.

The loss to South Africa was particularly criticised, with former Tottenham Hotspur defender Lee Young-pyo describing it on television as “the worst match by a Korean football team in the 21st century.” During this crucial match, captain Son Heung-min was left on the bench. The team then had to wait for more than three days to learn if they would progress as one of the best third-placed teams.

Governance under scrutiny

President Lee Jae-myung posted a statement on social media expressing “not just confusion but utter bewilderment at the unexpected outcome.” He attributed the early exit to a “failure of organisation and personnel,” suggesting that “favouritism and cronyism take precedence over competence in selecting a commander.”

The president’s comments intensified scrutiny on Chung Mong-gyu, who has been president of the Korea Football Association (KFA) since 2013. Chung faced criticism for his hiring practices, including the appointment of Hong Myung-bo in July 2024 and Jurgen Klinsmann over a year prior, with questions raised about the fairness and transparency of these processes.

Fans had previously expressed their dissatisfaction, with Hong being booed during his first home game against Palestine in Seoul in September 2024. The Ministry of Sports also conducted an investigation into the KFA, recommending the suspension of Chung and other officials in November 2024. Despite this, Chung secured a court injunction to allow him to run for, and win, a fourth term in February 2025. He announced in May that he would step down after the World Cup, acknowledging “various controversies and criticisms” during his tenure.

Wider implications for Korean football

The recent performance has highlighted a perceived decline in Korean football compared to Japan. While South Korea has a history as Asia’s most successful World Cup team with 11 consecutive appearances, there is a growing sentiment that they have fallen behind their regional rival.

Historically, South Korea’s K League was established a decade before Japan’s J League, and Korean clubs once dominated continental competitions. However, recent results, such as Brazil’s 5-0 win in Seoul followed by a 3-2 loss to Japan in Tokyo, and South Korea’s 4-0 defeat to Ivory Coast while Japan defeated England 1-0 at Wembley, indicate a shift.

J League clubs are now consistently outperforming their K League counterparts in Asian competitions and are exporting more talent to Europe. Japan’s national team squad is reportedly composed exclusively of European-based stars. This contrast has led some fans to suggest that Japan’s long-term, structured approach to football development is superior to South Korea’s.

With no coach and no federation president currently in place, the period following the 2026 World Cup exit is seen by some as a critical moment for Korean football to implement significant changes. Son Heung-min, who turns 34 in July, may also be considering his international career, and a planned public welcome ceremony at Incheon International Airport was cancelled.

The anger surrounding the team’s performance has led to reported death threats against the coach, and the locations of player and staff arrivals back to South Korea were kept secret.

Source: bbc.com