Japan men's national team head coach Hajime Moriyasu defended South Korean coach Hong Myung-bo after South Korea's early 2026 FIFA World Cup exit [1].
The gesture is notable given the intense sporting rivalry between the two nations. Moriyasu's comments came amid severe domestic criticism of Hong's leadership in South Korea, highlighting a rare moment of cross-border professional solidarity.
South Korea was eliminated during the group stage of the tournament in Qatar [2]. Following the exit, Hong Myung-bo resigned from his position in less than 24 hours [3]. In his statement upon leaving, Hong said, "I apologise to the fans" [3].
Moriyasu spoke from Tokyo and said that the South Korean coach and his players deserved recognition for their hard work despite the tournament results. He suggested that judging a coach solely on the final score is an incomplete assessment of their contribution.
"It’s unfair to define Hong’s tenure solely by results; he gave everything for his country," Moriyasu said [1].
While Moriyasu offered support, South Korean political leadership was less lenient. President Lee Jae-myung criticized the management of the team and said that "favoritism and cronyism were favoured over competence" [2].
Japan's own tournament run ended shortly after. The team suffered a 2-1 defeat to Brazil in the round of 16 [4]. Despite the loss, Moriyasu's decision to support a rival coach has drawn attention for prioritizing professional effort over national competition.
“"It’s unfair to define Hong’s tenure solely by results; he gave everything for his country."”
The exchange underscores the tension between professional coaching standards and national expectations. While Moriyasu emphasized the effort and dedication of the coaching staff, the reaction from the South Korean presidency suggests a deeper systemic critique of how the national team is managed, indicating that performance in the World Cup often triggers broader political scrutiny in South Korea.
