Hong Myung-bo Resigns as South Korea Coach After Failing to Reach 2026 World Cup Round of 32

Hong Myung-bo, the head coach of the South Korean national football team, has officially resigned from his post. The decision comes just a day after the Taeguk Warriors were confirmed to be out of contention for the 2026 World Cup, failing to advance to the Round of 32.

"First of all, I want to express my sincere apologies to the fans and supporters of South Korean football. Today, I resign from the national football team," Hong stated, taking full responsibility for the team's failure. This marks a disappointing end to his second tenure as the team's manager, echoing the unfulfilled expectations of his previous World Cup stint in 2014.

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First of all, I want to express my sincere apologies to the fans and supporters of South Korean football. Today, I resign from the national football team.

South Korea was widely expected to progress from Group A, which included hosts Mexico, South Africa, and the Czech Republic. However, the team suffered a 0-1 defeat against South Africa and a loss to Mexico. Their sole victory came against the Czech Republic with a 2-1 scoreline. This resulted in only three points, leaving their hopes of advancing as one of the best third-placed teams dependent on other group results, which ultimately did not favor them.

During his coaching period, Hong often questioned his decisions, asking himself if they were the right choices for Korean football. The team's inability to secure a place in the knockout stages represents a significant setback for the national program, prompting a re-evaluation of the team's future direction.

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For the past two years, I have always asked myself the same question whenever I had to make an important decision, select players, or prepare for training sessions and matches: Is this the right choice for Korean football?