"We can win the World Cup Korea in South Korea, Spain did the same..." Legendary Cha Boom's heart-wrenching message "SON and LEE.""

*This content was translated by AI.

Cha Bum-keun (73), chairman of the "living legend of Korean soccer," sent a warm message of support to Hong Myung-bo Team, more than 100 days before the 2026 FIFA 2026 FIFA North and Central America World Cup.

Chairman Cha Bum-keun attended the 38th Cha Bum-keun Football Awards ceremony held at the HW Convention Center in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 26th and encouraged 21 promising soccer players and leaders.

A total of 20 prospects and one best leader, including 16 men and four women, were honored at the Cha Bum-keun Football Awards, which marks its 38th anniversary this year. The award, established in 1988, produced numerous stars, including Park Ji-sung, Ki Sung-yueng, Hwang Hee-chan, and Baek Seung-ho, establishing itself as the cradle of training Korean soccer talent.

Chairman Cha Bum-keun, OB Football Association Chairman Lee Hoi-taek, JS Foundation Chairman Park Sung-jong, former Gangwon FC CEO Lee Young-pyo, and Jeju SK Youth Advisor Koo Ja-cheol attended the event.

According to News 1, Newsis, Chairman Cha delivered a heartfelt message of support by singing "Let's go Korea, let's go to the quarterfinals." Chairman Cha, who was interviewed by reporters after the event, shouted the quarterfinals because he thought it would be better to set a high goal if he was going to shout. In the process of appointing the director, there were many things, such as noise and criticism against the association. But now, with the competition just around the corner, it's time to put everything down and cheer for the players with one heart."

Chairman Cha then said, "When I played in Germany, I was excited and could do better because the people applauded me saying, 'You're good.' Our players also desperately need support now. We need to find ways for the players to do better together. The competition is just around the corner, but there is still too little support. He stressed that he will definitely perform well at the World Cup if he saves it because he has a unique temperament for Koreans.

"Failure is a good lesson and training in adolescence," Cha said of the recent criticism of the age-specific national team for its poor performance at the Asian Cup and failure to advance to the Olympic finals. Having a variety of experiences will eventually be the foundation to fly higher when you become an adult," he said, conveying a warm message of encouragement.

Chairman Cha expressed hope that Korean soccer could make the dream of winning the World Cup a reality in the distant future. Chairman Cha, who played in Germany's Bundesliga in the 1980s and watched Spanish soccer, said, "When I was in Germany, Spain was a team that barely made it to the 16th. "The national league was spectacular, but the national team was always disappointed," he recalled.

In the meantime, Chairman Cha said of Korean soccer, "Spain was like that (I won the World Cup), but I wonder if we can't either. Now, more players are playing abroad. There is Son Heung-min and Lee Kang-in, he said. "Since we went to the semifinals in 2002 from our son's generation (Cha Du-ri), wouldn't it be possible to win the championship by our grandchildren's generation. My wish is to see South Korea lift the World Cup trophy before I die. If the miracle happens after I die, I hope you will tell future generations that someone like this told you this. You can win the World Cup, too. In future generations, better times can open. I continue to believe in it like that and go," he said, expressing his heart-wrenching sincerity.

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*This content was translated by AI.