*This content was translated by AI.
A Mexican media outlet that is in the same group as the South Korean national football team at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America reported on the domestic atmosphere surrounding the Hong Myung-bo-led squad.
Sports Illustrated (SI) Mexico, on the 27th (Korean time), analyzed that "the South Korean national football team is approaching the World Cup with a coach who is shunned by his own fans, a symbolic captain whose bench status is debated, a massive bonus that no one welcomed, and a national team that departed without a send-off ceremony."
SI first conveyed the critical domestic atmosphere regarding the Hong Myung-bo squad's departure for the pre-tournament camp in the United States without a World Cup send-off ceremony. Previously, after announcing the final World Cup roster on the 16th, the Hong Myung-bo squad departed two days later for the pre-tournament camp in Salt Lake City, USA, without a send-off ceremony. The Korea Football Association had explained this decision was due to the World Cup schedule for Group A being earlier than other teams and the need to acclimate to the high altitude of Mexico, where the World Cup group stage matches are held.
However, the media noted, "Although the South Korean national team departed early citing 'high-altitude acclimatization,' there are voices inside and outside the team suggesting it was a move to avoid internal pressure and criticism." It further pointed out, "Departing without a World Cup send-off ceremony was an unprecedented event in 40 years. This well reflects the situation of South Korean football ahead of the North American World Cup."
The outlet also highlighted the atmosphere where Coach Hong Myung-bo has not received fan support since his appointment.
SI Mexico explained, "While Coach Hong Myung-bo was the captain during the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup semi-final myth, has participated in four World Cups, and is also the most important figure in Asian football history, his return as the national team head coach was evaluated by the Korea Football Association not as finding the best coach after (Jürgen Klinsmann), but as choosing the safest name."
It continued, "Coach Hong Myung-bo has transformed the previously aggressive and high-pressing South Korean national team into a rigid and conservative squad. Instead of the 4-2-3-1 formation long utilized, the team has switched to a 3-4-2-1 formation designed not to win, but to avoid losing. In South Korea, many feel that the national team has lost not only its offensive identity but also its team identity."
The media also conveyed a negative atmosphere regarding the World Cup bonus, which the Korea Football Association set at the largest scale in history. Previously, the Football Association set a basic allowance of 50 million won per person for all 26 players who made the final roster, with bonuses increasing by 100 million won for each subsequent round after advancing to the tournament: 100 million won for reaching the Round of 32, 200 million won for the Round of 16, and 300 million won for the Round of 8. Additionally, allowances were set for group stage results: 0.3 billion won for a win, 0.1 billion won for a draw, and after advancing to the tournament, 50 million won for a win in the Round of 32 and 80 million won for a win in the Round of 16.
However, SI criticized, "Although the Korea Football Association designed a system of multi-million won bonuses just for making the final roster and a massive incentive structure for passing the group stage, most in South Korea perceive this as a desperate attempt to cover years of internal conflict and a collapse of trust with money."
It added, "South Korea is the only team to pass the Asian World Cup qualifiers undefeated and has qualified for the World Cup finals for 11 consecutive years. It has many players competing in Europe's top leagues and possesses tactical organization and the experience of reaching the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup semi-finals. Yet, at the same time, it is approaching the tournament with a coach shunned by its own fans and a national team atmosphere that departed for the World Cup without even a farewell."
<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>
*This content was translated by AI.
