Hong Myung-bo resigns as South Korea’s head coach after World Cup failure

Hong Myung-bo stepped down as head coach of South Korea’s national football team on June 28, 2026, taking full responsibility for a World Cup campaign that ended in the group stage. It’s the second time he’s walked away from the job after an early tournament exit, having done exactly the same thing in 2014.

South Korea’s 2026 World Cup run started with promise. A 2-1 victory over the Czech Republic in their opening match suggested the team might have found its footing. Then came back-to-back 1-0 losses to Mexico and South Africa, and suddenly the tournament was over before the knockout rounds even began.

A coaching carousel that keeps spinning

Hong was reappointed as national team manager in July 2024, replacing Jurgen Klinsmann. His contract was supposed to run until February 2027. It lasted roughly two years instead.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung didn’t mince words. On the same day as Hong’s resignation, Lee called for a government investigation into the KFA’s appointment process, criticizing it for prioritizing factors other than merit.

South Korea’s football ambitions versus reality

For context, South Korea co-hosted the 2002 World Cup and reached the semifinals, one of the most remarkable runs in the tournament’s history. That team’s legacy has cast a long shadow over every squad since.

Consecutive group-stage exits under the same coach, separated by 12 years, suggest a pattern rather than bad luck. Strategic failures in tight 1-0 losses point to preparation and game management issues.

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