Hong Myung-bo: 'Result disappointing, but players gave their all'

South Korean football coach Hong Myung-bo lamented a costly mistake that led to a 1-0 defeat against hosts Mexico in their second 2026 World Cup qualifier. The loss means South Korea, with one win and one loss, now sits second in Group A behind Mexico, who have secured their place in the next round.

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The result is disappointing, but the players did their best.

"The result is disappointing, but the players did their best," Hong stated after the match. He acknowledged a communication breakdown between goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu and defender Lee Ki-hyuk led to the decisive goal in the 50th minute. Despite the error, the coach expressed satisfaction with the team's overall performance, noting they executed their game plan well against a strong Mexican side.

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There was a scene where they deferred to each other. I think that's why the mistake happened.

"We anticipated strong pressure from the start, and I emphasized to the players the importance of ball possession even if we lost it," Hong explained. "We managed to hold them off without conceding until the 20th minute, and after that, the momentum shifted in our favor, allowing us to dominate both possession and play."

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We managed to hold them off without conceding until the 20th minute, and after that, the momentum shifted in our favor, allowing us to dominate both possession and play.

Looking ahead to the crucial final group match against South Africa, Hong stressed the importance of mental fortitude. "Their key players might be suspended, but that's irrelevant. We need to prepare thoroughly, focusing on our own game," he said. "I've watched both of South Africa's matches; they have good speed and physicality. We need to improve our organized play for the final game."

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We cannot afford to hang our heads. We will prepare well to achieve a good result in the final match against South Africa.