South Korean national team loses in the World Cup, a ``shocking result'' even with the best team in history — Sportopod
South Korea's national team is eliminated from the World Cup, a ``shocking result'' despite the best team in history...Heartful criticism of coach Hong
They lost in the group stage despite having Son Heung-min and Kim Min-jae. Domestic media criticized director Hong Myung-bo, calling it an ``unthinkable disaster.'' What are the lessons from the 2026 Games?
The Korean national team has been eliminated from the group stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. In addition to the 0-1 loss against South Africa, the results at other venues worked against them, and they missed out on advancing to the final tournament. Director Hong Myung-bo has been criticized by the domestic media as an ``unthinkable disaster,'' and there are questions about his ability to lead.
The game took place on June 24th at AT&T Stadium in Dallas. They lost 1-0 to South Africa, leaving them with zero points from their two group stage matches. The group included France, Uruguay, and South Africa, with South Korea in last place.
The match against South Africa was decided by Mokoena Modise's goal in the 35th minute of the second half. South Korea missed a decisive opportunity and their attack was nipped in the bud. Son Heung-min played in all the games as captain, but his lack of decision-making ability was noticeable.
Although Kim Min-jae supported the defenders, his lack of control in the midfield was exposed. Lee Kang-in was also the starting point of the attack, but there were few situations that directly led to points. Although the team was hailed as the ``best force in history,'' they were unable to demonstrate their true potential.
In an editorial, the South Korean newspaper Sports Chosun harshly criticized the team, saying, ``Coach Hong's management is full of questions. '' Tactically, the 4-2-3-1 formation adopted by Coach Hong did not work. The two midfielders were too focused on defense, cutting off the supply to the front line and giving space to the opponents.
The timing of their press was delayed and they were unable to stop the opponent's build-up, which led to the decisive goal conceded. Furthermore, there were deficiencies in the defensive placement of set pieces, and mistakes in front of South Africa's goal led to a fatal goal. This defeat spread ripples throughout Asia.
The Japanese national team secured six points in the same group, in contrast to South Korea's poor performance. South Korea, which won an overwhelming victory in the Asian qualifying round, was burdened with high expectations along with the expectations of the domestic league, but it became clear that they actually lacked the depth of players. Fans have expressed their disappointment and anger on social media, and are demanding reforms from the association.
Historically, South Korea has established itself as a powerhouse in Asia by winning the joint tournament in 2002 and advancing to the last 16 of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. The group stage defeat was a shocking turning point for South Korea, which ended its record of advancing to the finals of 12 consecutive tournaments and was considered one of the most consistent national teams in Asia. Tactically, South Korea had traditionally focused on high-speed counters and crosses from the sides, but as the opposing team put in a systematic press and compact defense, the space they had was drastically reduced.
South Africa, in particular, looked to score from set pieces, seizing opportunities as soon as South Korea's defensive line was open. Coach Hong was said to have failed to anticipate this in advance, highlighting the importance of flexible tactical adaptation in modern soccer. Read at Football Channel
Why this matters
Although the South Korean national team had members who were hailed as the ``golden generation,'' they made a historic mistake in the 2026 tournament, losing in the group stage. Losing the first game in the 48-team tournament is a shocking result for the Korean soccer world. The harsh criticism from the domestic media is not only an attempt to hold the coaches accountable, but also an expression of distrust in the national team's future plans. If things continue like this, there are concerns that the international status of Korean soccer will decline.
Frequently asked
What was the direct cause of the Korean national team's defeat?
The 1-0 loss against South Africa was the deciding blow. They earned zero points from their two group stage matches, and the results at other venues also worked against them. The reason for the loss was said to be a lack of decisiveness in the attack and a lack of control in the midfield.
What kind of performance was Son Heung-min?
Although he played in all matches, there were a number of missed opportunities. Although he was expected to be the core of the team's attack, there were few situations in which he directly led to points. Although they showed great captaincy, it did not lead to results.
What is the content of the criticism towards director Hong Myung-bo?
A Korean newspaper harshly criticized the team's leadership ability, saying, ``It's an unthinkable disaster for us to lose with these members.'' The future of the national team is clouded over as flaws in tactics and questionable aspects of player selection have been pointed out.
What is the next step for the Korean Football Association?
It is expected that organizational reforms, including a change of manager, will begin within the year. Fans have been disappointed, and rebuilding the national team has become an urgent task. In addition to holding leaders accountable, a review of future plans is required.
What impact will the loss of the Korean national team have on the Korean soccer world?
There are concerns about a decline in international status. The loss of the members of the so-called golden generation creates a sense of distrust about the future of Korean soccer. The association will be forced to undergo fundamental reforms.
