"South Korea's Hong Myung-bo successor appointment may be delayed until early next year," foreign media predict shock

*This content was translated by AI.

Amid fierce fallout from South Korea's elimination from the group stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup CONCACAF Qualifiers, foreign media have projected that the appointment of a new head coach for the South Korean national football team may be delayed until early next year.

On the 14th (Korean time), Mexico's Spanish-language edition of El País stated, "Although Javier Aguirre, former coach of Mexico, has been mentioned as a candidate for the South Korean national team head coach position, the most important prerequisite for appointing a new coach like Aguirre is the normalization of the situation within the Korea Football Association (KFA). Currently, the KFA is without a leader," it pointed out.

The media reported, "The person who led the KFA since 2013, Jeong Mong-gyu (Chairman), submitted their resignation letter after the World Cup elimination was confirmed. Coach Hong Myung-bo has also stepped down. There were controversies surrounding Coach Hong from the time he was appointed as the national team coach in 2024. At that time, the Korean National Assembly held a hearing summoning Jeong Mong-gyu (Chairman) and Coach Hong Myung-bo, and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism judged that the appointment procedure for Coach Hong was opaque and that regulations were not properly followed."

The media further mentioned the 'K-Football Innovation Committee,' launched under the leadership of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, stating, "As a measure following President Lee Jae-myung's instruction for a government-level investigation, the KFA is now operating under the management of the Innovation Committee. A source familiar with the KFA situation suggested that it is possible one of the internal personnel of the Innovation Committee mentioned Coach Aguirre as a way to calm the current chaos." However, contrary to the media's explanation, the actual K-Football Innovation Committee is an advisory body without binding authority over the KFA.

El País further predicted that the vacant position of the South Korean national team head coach would only be formally filled after the next executive board, including the next president, is formed for the KFA. Naturally, the appointment timeline will inevitably be delayed, with even early next year being considered as a possibility.

The media added, "It appears that several weeks to several months may pass from the formation of a new KFA leadership until the coach appointment procedure according to regulations begins under government supervision. Therefore, it is highly likely that the September and October A-matches will be held with an interim coaching system, and the appointment process for the next coach will only change after reforms at the KFA are completed. The final appointment may be delayed until the end of this year or early 2027."

In such a scenario, Korean football would have to proceed to the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, held in Saudi Arabia in January next year, without properly preparing under a new coaching system. The preparation period for the World Cup, jointly hosted by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco in 2030, would also become correspondingly shorter.

However, more weight is being placed on the opinion that rather than rushing to appoint a next president or coach, it is paramount to firmly establish measures to normalize Korean football, even if it takes a little longer. There are also efforts to prepare an exception clause to extend the deadline for holding the next presidential election within '60 days' as stipulated in regulations when the K-Football Innovation Wi Won-hoe-ga (Chairman) position becomes vacant, aiming to ensure the president is elected through proper procedures. The same applies to the appointment of a coach.

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*This content was translated by AI.