Hong Myung-bo Takes Responsibility for Loss After Failing to Secure Round of 32 Spot

South Korean national football team head coach Hong Myung-bo has taken full responsibility for the team's defeat in a match where a draw would have been enough to secure an automatic spot in the Round of 32.
The South Korean team, led by Hong, lost 0-1 to South Africa in their final Group A match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Monterrey Stadium in Guadalupe, Mexico, on June 25 (KST).
South Korea, which only needed a draw to secure second place in the group and advance to the Round of 32, finished third with 1 win and 2 losses (3 points), trailing Mexico (9 points) and South Africa (4 points).
For South Korea to advance to the Round of 32, they must now rank among the top 8 teams out of the 12 third-place finishers across all groups.
In a post-match interview, Coach Hong said, "The players felt impatient. It is regrettable that we conceded the first goal," adding, "The players did their best until the end, but the disappointing result is the coach's responsibility."
Regarding the substitution of defender Kim Min-jae in the 66th minute, he explained, "I replaced him because he had a calf injury."
(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.