Korea Plummets to 32nd in FIFA Rankings, Lowest Since December 2021

The South Korean men's national football team has experienced a significant decline in the FIFA world rankings, plummeting to 32nd place. This marks the lowest ranking for the team since December 2021, reflecting a disappointing performance in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The team's current ranking score is 1558.72 points, according to FIFA's updated rankings released on June 29 (Korean time).

South Korea's struggles in the World Cup group stage, where they recorded one win and two losses, directly contributed to this sharp drop in the rankings. After an initial 2-1 comeback victory against Czech Republic, the team suffered consecutive 0-1 defeats to Mexico and South Africa, the latter considered the weakest team in their group. This performance contrasts sharply with their previous standing; they were ranked 29th in February 2022 and had maintained a position within the top 20 for a considerable period.

Coach Hong Myung-bo announced his resignation during a press conference at the team's base camp in Tsipapán, Mexico, on June 28 (local time). His decision comes after the team's early exit from the tournament, which has been widely described as a dismal outcome. The team's ranking had been 22nd when the World Cup draw was made in December, and they started the tournament ranked 25th.

Notably, Canada, who defeated South Africa 1-0 in their match, climbed to 30th in the rankings. With teams like Sweden (36th), Paraguay (37th), and the Democratic Republic of Congo (41st) having advanced to the Round of 32 while South Korea did not, there is a possibility of further decline in the rankings for the Korean team.