The recent elimination of South Korea from the 2026 World Cup has ignited widespread criticism and calls for significant changes within the country’s football administration. Head coach Hong Myung-bo resigned on Sunday, hours after the team’s exit was confirmed, stating, “I am genuinely very sorry.” This departure follows a period of mounting dissatisfaction among fans and political figures.
The team’s performance in Group A, which included co-hosts Mexico, South Africa, and the Czech Republic, led to their early exit. After an initial 2-1 victory against the Czech Republic, South Korea suffered 1-0 defeats to both Mexico and South Africa. The loss to South Africa, where captain Son Heung-min was benched, was described by former defender Lee Young-pyo as “the worst match by a Korean football team in the 21st century.” The team finished third in their group with three points.
The reaction to the team’s performance has been intense, with reports of death threats against the coach and the secret handling of player and staff arrivals back in South Korea. The cancellation of a planned welcome ceremony at Incheon International Airport for the returning players further underscores the public’s anger. While players have largely avoided direct public ire, the focus has shifted to the governance of football in the country.
Presidential and political criticism
The controversy escalated with an extraordinary statement from President Lee Jae-myung, who expressed “not just confusion but utter bewilderment at the unexpected outcome.” He attributed the early exit to a “failure of organisation and personnel,” adding that “when favouritism and cronyism take precedence over competence in selecting a commander, the result is as predictable as fire burning paper.” He also pledged swift reform of sports administration.
Political parties have also weighed in, with both the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) calling for a parliamentary probe into the operations of the Korea Football Association (KFA). Representatives like Park Beo-kye of the DPK and Kim Seung-su of the PPP have voiced strong opinions, with Park stating that Korean football needs “not merely remodeling, but reconstruction.” Another DPK lawmaker, Song Young-gil, described the KFA as “the biggest enemy for Korean football.”
Much of the criticism has been directed at Chung Mong-gyu, who has served as president of the KFA since 2013. He was criticised for appointing Hong Myung-bo in July 2024, bypassing standard hiring procedures, a similar issue to his earlier appointment of Jurgen Klinsmann. Questions regarding the fairness and transparency of these processes have been raised. Chung, who is part of the family owning Hyundai, announced in May that he would step down after the World Cup, acknowledging “various controversies and criticisms” during his tenure.
Broader implications for Korean football
The current situation highlights a perceived decline in South Korean football compared to its regional rival, Japan. While South Korea was historically a leader in Asian football, with the K League established a decade before the J League, Japan is now seen as having a more structured and long-term approach. This disparity was evident in recent international matches, such as Brazil’s 5-0 victory in Seoul followed by their 3-2 loss in Tokyo, and Japan’s 1-0 win against England at Wembley while South Korea lost 4-0 to Ivory Coast.
Clubs in the J League are also reported to be outperforming K League rivals in Asian competitions and exporting more talent to Europe. The Japanese national team now consists exclusively of European-based players. This contrasts with the situation in South Korea, where the focus is on addressing the current crisis. With no coach, an outgoing federation president, and a strong desire for change, the pain of the 2026 World Cup exit could serve as a turning point for South Korean football.
Hong Myung-bo, who also led the team to a group-stage exit at the 2014 World Cup, stated after his resignation that he would continue to support the national team. The Ministry of Sports had previously conducted an investigation into the KFA in November 2024, recommending the suspension of Chung and other officials, though the KFA obtained a court injunction allowing Chung to run for and win a fourth term in February 2025.
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Source: bbc.co.uk