South Korea Faces Calls for Football Overhaul After Shock World Cup Exit

Posted : 29 June 2026

South Korea's disappointing World Cup campaign has ignited widespread criticism at home, with calls for sweeping reforms across the country's football leadership continuing despite the resignation of head coach Hong Myung-bo.

The Asian side, which famously reached the World Cup semi-finals as co-hosts in 2002, failed to qualify for the knockout stage after missing out on a place among the tournament's best third-placed teams. Their campaign ended with a surprising 1-0 defeat to South Africa, a result that eliminated them from the competition.

The fallout was immediate. Hong stepped down as head coach on Sunday, while uncertainty also surrounded the international future of captain Son Heung-min following the team's unexpected exit.

South Korea's president, Lee Jae Myung, added to the pressure by publicly apologising to the nation and blaming "incompetent people" for the team's failure. His comments echoed the frustration of supporters who have grown increasingly dissatisfied with the direction of South Korean football over recent years.

Former captain Park Ji-sung said the disappointing outcome had been years in the making, arguing that the country's football authorities had failed to build on lessons learned from previous World Cup campaigns.

Park said South Korea had spent years developing better preparation methods and football structures after earlier tournaments, but those improvements had gradually been lost.

South Korea entered the World Cup as favourites to advance from a group containing co-hosts Mexico, South Africa and the Czech Republic. An opening 2-1 victory over the Czech Republic was followed by a narrow defeat to Mexico before the decisive loss against South Africa ended their hopes.

The team is expected to return home on Tuesday, but local media reported that the Korea Football Association (KFA) has no plans to organise an official reception, reflecting the negative mood surrounding the national side.

The current disappointment has revived memories of the 2014 World Cup, when supporters threw Korean sweets at the players upon their return after another group-stage elimination under Hong during his first spell in charge.

Hong had faced intense scrutiny ever since returning as national team coach in July 2024, replacing former Germany manager Jurgen Klinsmann. His appointment attracted criticism over the selection process, with many questioning the transparency and fairness of the KFA's decision.

The coach also faced heavy criticism throughout the World Cup, particularly after leaving Son Heung-min out of the starting lineup against South Africa in a match where South Korea needed only a draw to progress.

Following the defeat, Hong admitted he was struggling to explain what had gone wrong as the team waited anxiously for results elsewhere before their elimination was confirmed.

Former international Lee Chun-soo, a member of South Korea's historic 2002 World Cup squad, described the experience of relying on other teams' results as humiliating. He said the tournament should serve as a wake-up call for South Korean football and argued that those responsible should be prepared to step aside.

Much of the criticism has also been directed at KFA president Chung Mong-gyu. Before the tournament, Chung announced he would resign after the World Cup, acknowledging the criticism he has faced during his 13 years in charge.

The 65-year-old has endured repeated controversy during his tenure, including backlash over an attempt to pardon former players who had received lifetime bans for match-fixing.

Attention is also turning to Son Heung-min, who has yet to reveal whether he intends to continue representing the national team. The captain, who turns 34 next month, has previously suggested retirement from international football could be approaching.

Park Ji-sung urged South Korean football to use the painful elimination as an opportunity for meaningful change. He warned against repeating past mistakes and stressed that the country must build a stronger long-term vision if it hopes to return to competing successfully on the world's biggest stage.

South Korea Faces Calls for Football Overhaul After Shock World Cup Exit

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