"We could not deliver the results the people expected"

Hong steps down as firing calls mount over worst-ever finish

Park Hang-seo, national team director, also issues apology

South Korea national team head coach Hong Myung-bo leaves a press conference at Chivas Valle Verde in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, on Monday, after announcing his resignation following the team's group-stage elimination from the 2026 North America World Cup. [Yonhap]
South Korea national team head coach Hong Myung-bo leaves a press conference at Chivas Valle Verde in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, on Monday, after announcing his resignation following the team's group-stage elimination from the 2026 North America World Cup. [Yonhap]

South Korea national team head coach Hong Myung-bo has resigned, taking responsibility for the team's group-stage elimination from the 2026 North America World Cup.

The day after the elimination was confirmed, Hong met with reporters Monday morning (Korean Standard Time) at Chivas Valle Verde in Zapopan, Mexico — the team's base camp training facility — and read out a prepared statement announcing his decision to step down.

"The position of head coach demands accountability before results, with no room for excuses," he said. "We could not deliver the results that the people of this country expected at this World Cup. All of that responsibility lies with me, the head coach."

He added: "I am laying down the reins, but I am not laying down my heart for Korean football. I sincerely hope our national team will grow into a side that once again earns the trust and love of the Korean people."

Hong said taking the job had been far from an easy decision. "From the moment I decided to take charge, I stopped thinking about anything else. Fulfilling the responsibility entrusted to me to the very end — that was the only thing I believed I had to do," he said.

Under Hong, South Korea finished third in Group A with one win and two losses, beating the Czech Republic 2-1 before falling 0-1 to both Mexico and South Africa. The top eight third-place finishers across the tournament's 12 groups were also eligible to advance to the round of 32, but South Korea failed to make that cut as well, with its tournament run ending Sunday.

South Korea finished 34th overall — its worst-ever placement at a World Cup, in a tournament that for the first time expanded to 48 nations.

Hong read only from his prepared statement and did not take questions from reporters.

Hong had been appointed on July 8, 2024, with his original contract running through the Asian Cup in January 2027. The failure to advance past the group stage cut that tenure short by roughly half a year.

Park Hang-seo, who served as World Cup support director and national team director and accompanied the squad throughout the tournament, also bowed in apology. "On behalf of the Korea Football Association, I offer my deepest apologies in my capacity as support director and national team director," he said.

He went on to say: "I believe this is the time for the Korea Football Association to prepare for the future anew, with painful reflection and soul-searching, so that Korean football can make a fresh start after the setbacks of this World Cup."


yjc@heraldcorp.com