Short-Lived Debut on the World Cup Stage: Jens Castrop Says, "Not the Dream I Imagined, But Just the Beginning"

Jens Castrop (Borussia Mönchengladbach) has tightened his laces once again, despite a bittersweet end to his first-ever FIFA World Cup representing South Korea, the country of his mother.
Following the confirmation of the South Korean national team's elimination from the 2026 FIFA World Cup North America, Castrop shared his thoughts on the tournament through his social media on June 28.
Along with photos of himself tying his soccer cleats on the pitch, Castrop wrote, "It is a disappointing result," adding, "It was not the World Cup I had dreamed of, but it was a journey I will never forget."
Born in Düsseldorf, Germany, in 2003 to a German father and a Korean mother, Castrop is a mixed-heritage player for the South Korean national team.
He is the first mixed-heritage player born abroad to represent the South Korean men's national team at the World Cup.
Castrop made his World Cup debut on June 25, coming on as a substitute at the start of the second half in the Group A match against South Africa.
South Korea finished the group stage in third place with one win and two losses after a 0-1 defeat to South Africa. The team remained at their base camp in Mexico for three days, waiting to see if they would qualify based on the results of other third-placed teams, but ultimately packed their bags on June 28.
The match against South Africa, which served as his World Cup debut, became Castrop's final game of the tournament.
"I truly believe we deserved more, considering the effort, sacrifice, and belief we poured into this journey," Castrop said, calmly accepting the outcome by adding, "But that is how the sport of football is sometimes."
He also did not forget to express his gratitude, saying, "I sincerely thank everyone who supported us in every moment."
Castrop, who plays in the German Bundesliga, promised to rise again and take on new challenges.
"I will learn from this experience, come back stronger, and continue to fight," Castrop stated.
He concluded by adding, "This is just the beginning."
(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.