SEOUL: South Korea head coach Hong Myung-bo resigned on Sunday following the national team’s shock first-round elimination from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as mounting public anger intensified calls for sweeping reforms within the Korea Football Association (KFA).
South Korea failed to advance to the knockout stage after suffering a 1-0 defeat to lower-ranked South Africa in their final Group A match, missing qualification as one of the tournament’s best third-placed teams despite opening the campaign with a 2-1 victory over the Czech Republic.
The early exit triggered widespread criticism from political leaders, former players and supporters. President Lee Jae Myung apologised to the nation, blaming “incompetent people” for the disappointing campaign and signalling the need for major changes in South Korean football.
Hong announced his resignation a day after the elimination, ending a tenure that had been under intense scrutiny since his appointment in July 2024. His decision to leave captain Son Heung-min out of the decisive match against South Africa drew widespread criticism, while Son’s international future remains uncertain after previous indications he could retire from national duty.
Former South Korea captain Park Ji-sung said the country’s football authorities had failed to build on lessons learned over the past decade, warning that recurring administrative and sporting failures had led to the team’s decline.
Former international Lee Chun-soo also called for a complete restructuring of South Korean football, saying the World Cup exit should serve as “a message to change” and urging senior officials to step down.
Attention has also turned to KFA President Chung Mong-gyu, who previously announced he would leave office after the World Cup following sustained criticism of his leadership and the federation’s governance. The KFA has also faced scrutiny over the process that led to Hong’s appointment and controversies surrounding attempts to pardon former players banned for match-fixing.
South Korea, which reached the World Cup semi-finals as co-hosts in 2002, were expected to progress from a group featuring Mexico, South Africa and the Czech Republic. Instead, their early exit has prompted renewed debate over the future direction of the country’s football programme.