The national football team is heading home with a heavy heart following a shocking elimination from the group stage of the 2026 North and Central America World Cup.

The team, led by head coach Hong Myung-bo, finished the group stage, which concluded today (June 28), in third place in Group A with 3 points.

Competing in Group A alongside co-host Mexico, the Czech Republic, and South Africa, South Korea secured a 2-1 comeback victory against the Czech Republic in their opening match but subsequently suffered consecutive 0-1 losses to Mexico and South Africa.

In this tournament, which expanded from 32 to 48 participating nations, 32 teams advance to the knockout stage: the top two teams from each of the 12 groups, plus the eight best third-placed teams.

However, South Korea failed to rank among the top eight third-placed teams, resulting in an early exit and a premature end to their tournament.

After falling to third place following a 0-1 defeat to South Africa on June 25, the team had returned to their base camp in Guadalajara, Mexico, to await the results of other groups, only to face the bitter reality of their elimination.

With the knockout stage expanded to begin from the Round of 32, the path to passing the group stage was considered wider. Furthermore, as the team was evaluated to have avoided a group of death, they had set their sights on reaching the Round of 16 for the second consecutive overseas World Cup, or even achieving better results.

However, the team delivered a lackluster performance against South Africa, a team with a significantly lower FIFA ranking, and managed only one win in their three group stage matches, suffering an unexpected and bitter elimination.

Consequently, the Korea Football Association (KFA) and the national team are expected to face a period of instability, including immediate decisions regarding the future of head coach Hong Myung-bo.

Hong, who took the helm of the national team in July 2024, was officially granted a term of approximately two and a half years, running through the AFC Asian Cup scheduled to be held in Saudi Arabia from January to February next year.

However, given the disastrous results at the World Cup, the most important stage, his tenure is now at a crossroads.

Furthermore, with the KFA president, the organization's top decision-maker, also in a position where a change is necessary, disruptions in preparations for the Asian Cup have become inevitable.

KFA President Chung Mong-gyu announced his sudden intention to resign late last month while the team was at their pre-tournament camp, stating, "I intend to step down from my position after this World Cup."

Chung, who has led the association since 2013, had successfully secured a fourth term in February last year with an approval rating of over 80 percent despite various challenges, and was set to serve until 2029. However, it is reported that he decided to resign as the atmosphere for World Cup support failed to materialize amid a decline in the association's image.

With the team's World Cup schedule concluded, President Chung is expected to proceed with the necessary steps, such as submitting his formal resignation.

Following this, a decision regarding an interim leadership will be made by the board of directors.

If the remaining term is more than one year, a new president must be elected within 60 days.

It will take a significant amount of time to elect a new president through an election, form an executive body, and complete various personnel appointments.

If a new head coach for the national team is to be selected under the new leadership, this process will inevitably be further delayed.

Prior to the Asian Cup, the national team is scheduled to play A-matches in the second half of this year, specifically between September and October, and in November.

In particular, the A-match period for September and October, the first since the World Cup, has been consolidated from the previous two matches each in September and October. This year, the team can be called up between September 21 and October 6 to play up to four matches.

If Hong does not continue his tenure after this World Cup and a new head coach is required, it remains unclear whether a new manager can be appointed and prepared for the matches before the September-October A-match window, making the appointment of an interim coach highly likely.

The November A-match period is scheduled from November 9 to 17, about two months before the Asian Cup.

In next year's Asian Cup, South Korea is placed in Group E and is set to compete against the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Vietnam, and Yemen.

(Photo: Yonhap News)