South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has apologised to the nation following the country’s disappointing exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, blaming poor leadership and promising sweeping reforms to the country’s sports administration.
South Korea’s hopes of reaching the knockout stage ended after results elsewhere denied them a place among the tournament’s best third-placed teams. The team finished third in Group A behind hosts Mexico and South Africa.
In a statement, President Lee criticised what he described as the appointment of leaders based on loyalty rather than competence, saying the approach had contributed to the team’s failure. He also apologised to supporters for the disappointing campaign and pledged swift reforms to improve the management of South Korean sports.
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South Korea opened their World Cup campaign with a 2-1 victory over the Czech Republic but followed it with back-to-back 1-0 defeats to Mexico and South Africa, ending their hopes of progressing.
Head coach Hong Myung-bo has faced heavy criticism, particularly for leaving captain Son Heung-min on the bench during the decisive defeat to South Africa. The coach is widely expected to step down or be dismissed following the tournament.
The campaign was also overshadowed by tensions between the national team and local media, as well as a drone incident that disrupted training before the match against Mexico.
Meanwhile, reports suggest captain Son Heung-min, now with Los Angeles FC, could retire from international football after the heartbreaking exit. The 33-year-old has scored 56 goals for South Korea and is regarded as one of the country’s greatest footballers.
The early elimination has triggered widespread disappointment across South Korea, with fans and media calling for major changes to restore the national team’s competitiveness on the world stage.
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