Hong Myung-bo's incompetence 'blocks even the path of his juniors'; players who lost out on the 'World Cup effect' in the transfer market

*This content was translated by AI.

The fallout from the Hong Myung-bo-led team's 'early exit' at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North, Central America and the Caribbean is increasingly likely to have a direct negative impact on the players themselves. The World Cup, which draws global attention, offers players a prime opportunity to enhance their individual value; however, South Korean national team players lost that very opportunity from the start.

In fact, the World Cup is both a dream stage where the world's top superstars compete and a platform where new stars are born. Stories of players from lesser-known leagues or teams, or those who had not received much attention, using their World Cup performances as a springboard to move to bigger stages have been a recurring theme every year. Many players also took on new challenges after receiving numerous offers based on their World Cup performances.

The Hong Myung-bo team also had no shortage of candidates poised to challenge for bigger stages starting with this World Cup. Players such as Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton), whose potential move to the English Premier League (EPL) or another league was raised amid his club's relegation from the Championship (second division); Oh Hyeon-gyu (Besiktas), who made a strong impact immediately after moving to Turkey; and Lee Han-beom (Midtjylland), who faced transfer rumors linking him to top European leagues like Liverpool early in the tournament, became targets of interest.

Moreover, there were cases where major clubs closely monitored players solely because they were key assets for their respective teams, such as Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain), whose potential move to Atletico Madrid (Spain) had been consistently rumored since before the World Cup opened, and Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich), whose position at his club weakened and sparked unceasing transfer rumors. If their World Cup performances had been supported by strong showings, they could have garnered even more attention in the European football transfer market.

To achieve this, the World Cup Gi Gan (CEO) team needed to deliver strong performances and results, with each player's strengths clearly showcased within those games. This is why the capability of the national team coach was so crucial. However, Coach Hong Myung-bo failed to secure either the team's performance or results, nor did he create game situations that would highlight the players' individual strengths. South Korea was eliminated from Group A in the group stage with one win and two losses, finishing third in the group. After a series of poor performances throughout the tournament, most players went unnoticed. One Japanese football specialist media outlet even listed South Korea as one of the worst teams that managed only dismal showings during this World Cup.

Even though Lee Kang-in's potential move to Atletico Madrid appears to be nearing completion despite the Hong Myung-bo team's group stage exit, this transfer cannot be seen as decisively driven by his World Cup performance. Although he demonstrated a standout presence during this tournament, Atletico Madrid had already attempted to sign Lee Kang-in several years ago and again last winter. The same logic applies to the fact that there are virtually no transfer rumors surrounding other members of the North, Central America and Caribbean World Cup squad besides Lee Kang-in.

Although the World Cup is still ongoing and the summer transfer window has just opened, interest in South Korean national team players who suffered an 'early exit' from the tournament will inevitably decline as time passes. This situation is particularly frustrating for players who must find new teams this summer due to relegation or poor form at their clubs.

Of course, the most significant factors influencing player transfers are consistent performances throughout the club season and demonstrated talent over time. Regardless of an early World Cup exit, players with the talent or ability to attract offers can still receive interest from new teams. However, it is regrettable from the perspective of Korean football that had their World Cup performances been supported by strong showings, more players would have had a higher likelihood of transferring under better conditions. Ultimately, Coach Hong Myung-bo's incompetence has blocked the path for his junior colleagues in the football world.

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*This content was translated by AI.