*This content was translated by AI.
This is not just a failure of this World Cup. Foreign media outlets are intensively analyzing the collapse of Korea's football system by linking it to controversies over social unfairness.
The Hong Kong outlet 'South China Morning Post' reported on the 5th (Korea time) that "the anger of Korean football fans is directed not at players including Son Heung-min, but at former coach Hong Myung-bo and the Korea Football Association."
The outlet highlighted that "South Korea's elimination from the group stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America and the Caribbean was an event that went beyond a simple tournament failure, causing cracks in the trust in fairness and meritocracy within Korean society."
Additionally, 'South China Morning Post' detailed the process by which the South Korean national team advanced after defeating Czech Republic 2-1 but then suffered consecutive 0-1 defeats against Mexico and South Africa, missing out on a spot in the tournament. In particular, the outlet added that "former coach Hong Myung-bo's tactic of keeping Son Heung-min on the bench for the first half of the final match is facing fierce criticism, as a draw would have been enough to advance to the next round."
Earlier, the British outlet 'The Guardian' also criticized the situation, stating that "the team attempted a reckless gamble by excluding captain Son Heung-min from the starting lineup for such a crucial match, which led to a major disaster."
The core of the public anger analyzed by foreign media lies in the opaque selection process. They pointed out that suspicions of a cartel rapidly spread online because the football association leadership and former coach Hong were graduates of a specific university.
Furthermore, 'South China Morning Post' strongly criticized former coach Hong Myung-bo's actions immediately after his resignation, when he boarded a flight to the United States. Former coach Hong, who announced his resignation in Guadalajara, Mexico, on the 28th and returned to Korea, departed for Los Angeles, where his family resides, just two days after his arrival on the 2nd.
Local European media are also giving significant coverage to South Korea's World Cup failure this time. The British outlet 'BBC' also evaluated that "a coach who faced huge backlash from football fans due to a lack of fairness and transparency in the selection process ultimately fell as his tactical deficiencies were exposed."
'South China Morning Post' also criticized Korea's chronic short-term performance-oriented system. In fact, citing expert interviews, the outlet pointed out that "Japan moves with a long-term goal of winning the World Cup within 100 years by 2092, whereas South Korea only thinks about the next World Cup."
In fact, in this tournament, the Japanese national team advanced to the Round of 32 and narrowly lost 1-2 to powerhouse Brazil after a tough match. Japan's coach Hajime Moriyasu and players returned home via Tokyo Haneda Airport, receiving warm cheers and applause from fans. This stands in stark contrast to the miserable reality faced by former coach Hong, who encountered fierce criticism upon his arrival at Incheon Airport.
<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>
*This content was translated by AI.
