Also, "I'm sorry": The South Korean national team bowed their heads to fans... Key midfielder Baek Seung-ho: "Thank you to everyone who stayed with us until the end"

*This content was translated by AI.

Baek Seung-ho (Birmingham City), a key midfielder for the South Korean national football team, expressed heartfelt thoughts filled with both regret and gratitude toward football fans after completing his duties in the 2026 FIFA World Cup CONCACAF Qualifiers.

On the 4th, Baek Seung-ho shared on his personal social networking service (SNS): "From the moment we began preparing for the World Cup until the final day, every single day was an unforgettable and precious time for me." He added, "Since we have been intensely preparing for this World Cup over the past four years, I feel even more regretful that we couldn't achieve our goals."

Under coach Hong Myung-bo, the team managed only one win and two losses in the tournament, failing to advance from the group stage. In the first-ever 48-team World Cup, South Korea suffered the humiliation of finishing 34th overall.

As a key asset for the national team, Baek Seung-ho took full responsibility for both the team's disappointing results and his own performance. He stated, "I feel deeply sorry to our fans because I believe we didn't show everything we had prepared." He continued, "Nevertheless, I sincerely thank everyone who supported us until the end with their passionate cheers."

In this tournament, Baek Seung-ho played as the central midfield partner to Hwang In-beom (Feyenoord) within South Korea's 3-4-2-1 formation. Displaying his characteristic high work rate and sharp passing ability in midfield, he served as the team's de facto engine.

Indeed, Baek Seung-ho started all three group stage matches, establishing a solid presence. In the first group match against Czech Republic, he played 84 minutes and contributed to the team's 2-1 victory. In the second match against Mexico, he played seven minutes, and in the third match against South Africa, he played the entire first half (45 minutes) before being substituted off, shedding blood and sweat on the field.

Although the tournament ended prematurely, Baek Seung-ho clearly expressed his determination to use this failure as a stepping stone for growth. He said, "I will deeply internalize the experiences and lessons gained from this World Cup and run again toward my next goals and bigger dreams." He added, "Once again, I thank everyone who supported us during this World Cup."

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*This content was translated by AI.