Travel YouTuber Kwak Tube could not hide his disappointment and sense of emptiness after watching the South Korean national football team's defeat against South Africa in person.

On June 25, a video titled "Vivid On-Site Review of the Terrible South Africa Match - Mexico (End)" was released on Kwak Tube's YouTube channel. Previously, Kwak Tube visited Monterrey, Mexico, in collaboration with a domestic beer brand to watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup Group A third-round match between South Korea and South Africa in person.

Arriving in Monterrey via Guadalajara, he expressed concern about the heat wave, saying, "The temperature here is similar to the Middle East. It's hotter than in Qatar. We're in trouble." However, he expressed confidence in advancing to the Round of 32, saying, "I heard the probability is around 91 percent. It feels similar to the Qatar World Cup. I've already bought plane tickets to watch the match in the U.S. I think we will win overwhelmingly, 3-0."

However, contrary to expectations, the match was frustrating. South Korea lost 0-1 to South Africa in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Group A third-round match held at Monterrey Stadium in Nuevo León, Mexico, on June 25 (KST). Following a helpless performance, South Korea's chance to advance on its own was thwarted, leaving its fate to be decided by the results of other teams.

Throughout the match, Kwak Tube expressed regret, saying, "We are playing almost a half-pitch game, but the final point is not coming," noting that while the attack build-up was not bad, the final pass, cross, and finishing were lacking. When the match ended 1-0, he expressed his emptiness, saying, "It feels like a dream. I can't get my head straight. I thought we would at least draw. I'm so angry right now that I'm speechless."

Leaving the stadium, Kwak Tube lamented, "Today, there were almost only Korean fans. Everyone spent their own money to come and cheer. The tickets weren't cheap either, but the performance was terrible. Today, I thought we all got heatstroke." He then strongly criticized, "What I felt while watching football is that it's ultimately about the manager. Isn't football a manager's game? Today's match was the worst among all the matches I've watched in person. The score wasn't the issue; the performance itself was just so bad."

Even if the South Korean team advances in third place, Kwak Tube will not be able to watch the match because it conflicts with his schedule in Los Angeles, USA. He added, "This is the end of my football trip. If the national team advances, I won't be able to see it in person, but I will cheer them on until the end."

Meanwhile, the appearance of Son Heung-min's father, Son Woong-jung, in Kwak Tube's video garnered attention, but Son's part has now been blurred in the content.

(Photo: Screenshot from Kwak Tube's YouTube channel)

 

(Reported by Kang Kyung-yoon, SBS Star News)