South Korea national football team head coach Hong Myung-bo resigned Sunday, June 28, 2026, following the team's elimination from the FIFA World Cup [1].
The resignation follows a disappointing group-stage exit that triggered intense criticism from the South Korean presidency and national media. This failure represents a significant blow to the country's sporting prestige during a high-stakes international tournament.
Hong stepped down at the team's training camp in Guadalajara, Mexico [2]. The decision came approximately 24 hours after the team's final matches on Saturday, June 27 [3].
South Korea competed in Group A alongside Mexico, South Africa, and Czechia [4]. Despite the tournament format allowing eight third-placed teams to advance to the knockout stage, South Korea finished third in Group A and failed to qualify for the Round of 32 [5, 6].
The early exit led to public condemnation from the South Korean president, who said the government should probe the circumstances surrounding the team's performance [7]. The president specifically targeted incompetent individuals responsible for the result [8].
This turmoil marks a volatile end to the campaign for the national team. The resignation of Hong Myung-bo serves as a direct response to the pressure from both the administration and the public after the team's inability to secure a spot in the next round [3, 7].
“South Korea finished third in Group A and failed to qualify for the Round of 32”
The swift resignation of Hong Myung-bo, coupled with the South Korean president's demand for a government probe, underscores the immense political and social pressure placed on the national team. In South Korea, World Cup performance is often viewed as a matter of national pride, meaning sporting failures can lead to direct government intervention and immediate leadership turnover.
