Hong Myung-bo Resigns as South Korea Coach After World Cup Exit

Hong Myung-bo has resigned as head coach of South Korea’s men’s national football team following the country’s failure to progress beyond the group stage at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. South Korea had hoped to reach the knockout rounds as one of the tournament’s best third-placed teams, but those hopes ended when other results went against them on Saturday.

The disappointing campaign sparked widespread criticism in South Korea, with President Lee Jae Myung calling for an investigation into the team’s performance and the management of the national football program. The early elimination fell well short of expectations for a squad aiming to make a deep run in the tournament.

Announcing his resignation on Sunday, Hong apologized to supporters and accepted full responsibility for the team’s performance. “The responsibility rests entirely with me as head coach,” he said, adding that he was deeply sorry for failing to meet the expectations of fans and the nation.