With the number of participating nations increasing, 'How did we end up 34th?' Hong Myung-bo's team delivers the worst performance in history... Two years of preparation, Hong Myung-bo's team 'tragically eliminated from the World Cup'

*This content was translated by AI.

The South Korean national football team, led by head coach Hong Myung-bo (57), finished the 2026 FIFA North American World Cup with a final ranking of 34th. Despite the number of participating nations increasing from 32 to 48 starting this tournament, it marks the worst performance in World Cup history.

In Group A of the group stage, South Korea recorded one win and two losses, accumulating only three points, finishing third in the group after defeating Czechia (2-1), losing to Mexico (0-1), and losing to South Africa (0-1). Under the tournament regulations, the top eight third-placed teams among the 12th groups could advance to the Round of 32, but South Korea finished 10th, falling outside the cutoff line of eighth place.

A final ranking of 34th is the lowest position South Korea has ever achieved since the 32nd-team format was introduced. If converted to previous standards, it is a devastating result where the team did not even reach the main tournament. The previous worst record was 30th place at the 1998 France tournament, and 27th place at the 2014 Brazil tournament, which was also led by Coach Hong.

After their final group stage match against South Africa on the 25th (Korean time), the national team endured three days of "hopeful torture" while watching results from other groups. However, on the 28th, Uzbekistan's 1-3 comeback loss to the Democratic Republic of the Congo in a K Group match confirmed South Korea's elimination. Additionally, in the J Group, Austria and Algeria drew 3-3, allowing Algeria to secure a Round of 32 ticket with four points (sixth in the third-place group). Meanwhile, Iran, which had been in eighth place, dropped to ninth, sharing the bitter fate of group-stage elimination with South Korea.

South Korea's elimination in the group stage comes eight years after the 2018 Russia tournament and marks the ninth time in history. Head coach Hong Myung-bo was appointed more than two years before the World Cup opening, providing ample preparation time. Although the situation differed from the 2014 Brazil tournament, where he took charge just one year before the event, he ultimately tasted a painful failure in his second World Cup as a head coach.

The national team, having received a dismal performance report, quietly departs for home. According to the Korea Football Association, due to difficulties in securing group flight tickets and safety concerns, the squad is expected to return to the country in several groups. Some overseas-based players will return directly to their clubs without stopping in South Korea.

With the arrival schedule of the squad staggered, all official homecoming events and media activities have been completely canceled. The first time since the 1990 Italy World Cup, where the team suffered three consecutive losses, that no homecoming event was held for the national team immediately after the World Cup is 36 years.

Meanwhile, head coach Hong Myung-bo is scheduled to hold a press conference at the Mexico Guadalajara base camp on the morning of the 28th (local time) to state his position on the elimination. Hong Myung-bo's contract runs until the AFC Asian Cup in January next year, drawing attention to whether any remarks will be made regarding his future plans.

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*This content was translated by AI.