Former South Korean national team player Lee Cheon-soo criticized the Korean Football Association and former coach Hong Myung-bo for the team's World Cup exit.
The public condemnation reflects deep frustration within the South Korean football community following the team's failure to advance past the group stage of the 2026 North-America World Cup [1]. As a high-profile former player, Lee's critique puts additional pressure on the KFA to address systemic failures in leadership and technical preparation.
In a video posted to his YouTube channel on June 28 [3], Lee described the team's performance as a disaster. He said the failure resulted from the actions of Hong Myung-bo and a small number of KFA officials. Lee said the elimination was the result of inadequate tactical planning, poor analysis of opponents, and insufficient match preparation [1, 2].
Lee specifically questioned the management of the players' physical condition during the tournament. He said that despite the coach's extensive experience, the staff failed to account for players becoming exhausted. He noted that the schedule was known in advance and questioned why the team was not better prepared for the physical demands of the matches [2].
The former player also expressed personal frustration with Hong's tenure. Lee said he disliked that Hong received two World Cup opportunities [2], suggesting that the trust placed in the coach was not rewarded with results on the pitch.
Lee's critique focused on the gap between the coach's reputation and the actual execution of the game plan. He said it is unacceptable for a coach with such a background to overlook basic elements of player stamina, and tactical readiness [2].
“The failure resulted from the actions of Hong Myung-bo and a small number of KFA officials.”
This conflict highlights a growing rift between the KFA's administrative appointments and the expectations of the South Korean sporting public. By targeting both the coach and the association, Lee is framing the 2026 exit not as a series of unlucky matches, but as a failure of governance and technical oversight that may lead to demands for broader leadership changes within the KFA.
