The South Korean national football team faced significant scrutiny following their disappointing performance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America. In a press conference held on July 23 at Estadio BBVA in Monterrey, Mexico, former coach Hong Myung-bo addressed one of the tournament's most controversial decisions: the exclusion of star player Son Heung-min from the starting lineup for the crucial match against South Africa.

Controversial Decisions and Group Stage Performance

Under the management of Hong Myung-bo, South Korea struggled to advance past the group stage, finishing third in Group A, which included Mexico, Czechia, and South Africa. The team began the tournament with a promising 2-1 comeback victory against Czechia but faltered in their second match, losing 0-1 to the host nation, Mexico. This left South Korea in a precarious position, needing at least a draw against South Africa to secure a place in the knockout stage.

In a bold move, Hong decided to bench captain Son Heung-min and veteran midfielder Lee Jae-sung for the match against South Africa. Although Son was substituted in at the beginning of the second half, South Korea ultimately lost 0-1, leading to heavy criticism of Hong's decision-making. The defeat meant that South Korea finished the group stage with one win and two losses, ranking lower than other third-place teams and marking their worst performance in World Cup history.

Hong Myung-bo's Explanation

In an interview with Channel A, Hong explained his rationale for excluding Son from the starting lineup, referencing a previous match where a similar strategy had worked. However, this time the gamble did not pay off, as the team failed to capitalize on scoring opportunities, resulting in a disappointing exit from the tournament.

Despite the expansion of the tournament from 32 to 48 teams, South Korea's inability to progress beyond the group stage has raised questions about their preparation and strategy. With a final ranking of 34th, the team and coaching staff will need to reflect on their performance as they look ahead to future competitions.