Hong quits as South Korea coach after World Cup exit

Hong Myung-bo resigned as South Korea’s men’s football coach after a group-stage World Cup exit that triggered public anger, criticism from former players and a call from President Lee Jae-myung for an investigation into the team’s performance.

South Korea had hoped to advance as one of the eight best third-placed teams under the expanded 48-team format, but that chance ended Saturday after other results went against them. The team finished third in Group A after one win and two losses, behind Mexico and South Africa.

Hong apologised to supporters Sunday and said responsibility for the early exit “rests entirely with me as head coach.” Speaking at a news conference in western Mexico, he said: “We didn’t deliver the results that our fans expected.”

“Even though I am leaving the national team, I am not abandoning Korean football altogether,” Hong said. “I will cheer for the national team from the bottom of my heart and hope that the team will be trusted and loved by the people once again.”

South Korea, ranked 32nd in FIFA’s men’s rankings and captained by Son Heung-min, opened the tournament with a 2-1 win over Czechia, according to Al Jazeera, before losing 1-0 to Mexico and then 1-0 to lower-ranked South Africa. The BBC reported that Mexico are ranked 15th and South Africa 60th.

The loss to South Africa on Thursday proved decisive. Al Jazeera reported that South Korea needed only a point in that match to progress but Hong dropped Son from the lineup. The defeat left South Korea waiting on other games for a possible route into the knockout stage, but the team ultimately failed to qualify.

Lee reacted sharply after the elimination. In a post on X, he said he felt “not just confusion but utter bewilderment at the unexpected outcome” and said the exit “appears to be a failure of organisation and personnel.”

“When favouritism and cronyism take precedence over competence in selecting a commander, the result is as predictable as fire burning paper,” Lee wrote. Al Jazeera reported that Lee also pointed to “incompetent people” and apologised to the nation.

Hong’s resignation did not end calls for broader change. Former captain Park Ji-sung said: “We may have expected this outcome years ago.”

“We have to look back and ask ourselves why things have come to this,” the former Manchester United player said after South Korea’s elimination was confirmed. “Even after spending a decade learning how to prepare for the World Cup and develop Korean football, we have forgotten those lessons once again.”

Hong’s appointment had been controversial since his return to the job in 2024. A former defender who captained South Korea to the 2002 World Cup semifinals, he also coached the national team at the 2014 World Cup, when it failed to win a match or advance from the group stage. Many fans criticised his reappointment, saying the Korea Football Association had bypassed foreign-born candidates who had undergone a rigorous vetting process, the BBC reported.

“Accepting the job was not an easy choice,” Hong said Sunday. “I cannot say every decision has been the right one, but I can tell you that I have made every decision with Korean football in mind.”

Al Jazeera reported that anger has also focused on KFA president Chung Mong-gyu, who said before the World Cup he would quit after the tournament, citing his “lack of virtue” following criticism of his 13-year tenure. The outlet reported that Chung, 65, is in his fourth term and had come under fire for trying to pardon former players banned for life for match-fixing.

The future of Son, who turns 34 next month, also remains uncertain. Al Jazeera reported that he had previously hinted at retiring from international football but had not commented on his future.

Local media reported that police were monitoring for security threats at Incheon Airport and other locations after an online death threat was made against Hong ahead of his return to South Korea, according to the BBC.