South Korea’s disappointing FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign has triggered a political storm, with President Lee Jae Myung ordering a government investigation into the national team’s group-stage elimination while head coach Hong Myung-bo stepped down from his role.

The Taeguk Warriors failed to reach the Round of 32 after finishing with just three points from three Group A matches. Despite defeating Czechia, losses to co-hosts Mexico and South Africa left South Korea relying on other results, only to miss out on qualification as one of the eight best third-placed teams.

South Korea President demands investigation into World Cup failure

In a strongly worded statement posted on social media, President Lee apologised to supporters for the team’s disappointing campaign and questioned how the country’s football administration had handled the national team.

“I am not just taken aback by this unexpected outcome – I am utterly baffled,” Lee wrote.

The South Korean president instructed the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to conduct a thorough investigation into the team’s early exit, citing the significant taxpayer funding invested in the national side’s World Cup campaign.

He also called for reforms within the country’s sports administration to prevent similar failures in the future.

“Given that significant national taxpayer funds and state support resources are invested even in World Cup participation, I ask that the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism thoroughly investigate the precise circumstances of this incident, analyse its causes, and develop thorough measures for preventing recurrence and improvement,” he said.

“We will swiftly push forward with reforms to sports administration to ensure such a thing never happens again.”

South Korea President questions Hong Myung-bo appointment

Although President Lee did not directly name Hong Myung-bo, he appeared to criticise the Korean Football Association’s coaching appointment process.

The president suggested “competence” had not been prioritised and claimed there had been a failure to separate “public and private interests” while selecting the national team’s leadership.

The remarks come months after South Korea’s sports ministry questioned Hong’s appointment, alleging the Korean Football Association had failed to follow its own procedures during the recruitment process. The KFA denied any wrongdoing at the time.

Hong Myung-bo resigns after World Cup exit

Shortly after South Korea’s elimination was confirmed, Hong announced he would step down as head coach, taking full responsibility for the team’s disappointing performance.

“It was not an easy decision for me to take this role, but once I took it, I thought about nothing else except being responsible until the very last moment,” Hong said.

“I take all the responsibility.”

Hong, one of South Korea’s greatest-ever footballers, returned as national team coach in 2024 after previously managing the side in 2013.

The former defender guided South Korea through the World Cup qualifiers unbeaten but could not replicate that form at the finals.

South Korea World Cup campaign ends in disappointment

South Korea entered the tournament as the second-highest ranked nation in Group A and were widely expected to progress to the knockout stages.

However, defeats against Mexico and South Africa overshadowed their victory over Czechia, leaving them stranded on three points and dependent on results elsewhere.

When the final third-place standings were confirmed, South Korea narrowly missed out on one of the eight qualification spots for the expanded Round of 32, bringing an abrupt end to their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign.

With Hong’s resignation confirmed and a government investigation now underway, South Korean football faces renewed scrutiny as pressure mounts on the Korean Football Association to explain one of the nation’s most disappointing World Cup performances in recent memory.