Presidential backlash triggers Hong Myung-bo’s resignation after South Korea’s World Cup disaster
South Korea head coach Hong Myung-bo has resigned from his post after an early group stage exit at the 2026 FIFA World Cup triggered fierce public backlash and intense government scrutiny.
South Korea head coach Hong Myung-bo has officially resigned following the nation’s premature elimination from the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Despite launching their Group A campaign with a promising 2-1 victory over Czechia, subsequent 1-0 defeats against Mexico and South Africa condemned the team to a third-place finish, completely extinguishing their hopes of advancing to the knockout rounds.
The dismal exit intensified immense pressure back home, prompting political figures to openly criticize the team’s underperformance.
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung publicly labeled Hong incompetent and demanded a thorough investigation into the Korea Football Association’s hiring process.
Taking absolute responsibility for the historic tactical failure, the 57-year-old manager announced his departure from their base camp in Mexico.
