South Korea's 'dismal' World Cup ends in group phase

South Korea's Son Heung-min could now retire (Julio Cesar AGUILAR)South Korea's turbulent World Cup ended at the group phase on Saturday and could lead to the international retirement of captain Son Heung-min.

>After three days of anxious waiting to see if they would squeeze into the knockout rounds as one of the eight third-placed finishers, results went against South Korea to send them home.

>Hong Myung-bo's side had the last 32 within grasp only to suffer a shock 1-0 loss to lower-ranked South Africa on Wednesday.

>Hong caused a surprise when he dropped the attacking talisman Son to the bench in a gamble that backfired.

>They finished third in Group A behind the co-hosts Mexico and South Africa, having also lost 1-0 to Mexico.

>They beat the Czech Republic 2-1 to start their World Cup, but that was as good as it got for the much-maligned Hong and the fading Son.

>The criticism back home has been fierce, with Hong firmly in the firing line.

>Yonhap News Agency called South Korea's premature exit "dismal".

>"The national team suffered the humiliation of a 2026 World Cup group-stage exit after three days of agonising hope," Yonhap said.

>A headline in Newsis said: "Fortune deserts Hong Myung-bo's side."

>South Korea's tournament was overshadowed by a row between the squad and local media, while a drone also buzzed a crucial training session before the Mexico defeat.

>Former Tottenham attacker Son, who now plays for Los Angeles FC, has hinted in the past at international retirement.

>The daily Sports Chosun expects that to be it now for the player who has carried South Korea so often and scored 56 goals for his country.

>"Son Heung-min's final World Cup ends in heartbreak," a headline said.

>He turns 34 next month.

>South Korean President Lee Jae Myung weighed in on the team's elimination, taking direct aim at head coach Hong and questioning the selection process that put him in charge.

>"When loyalty and factionalism are valued over competence, and incompetent people are appointed to leadership positions, the outcome is all but inevitable," Lee said in a post on X.

>"I offer my deepest apologies to the public for the profound disappointment caused by this unacceptable outcome,” he added.

>"We will move swiftly to reform sports administration to ensure that nothing like this happens again," he said, without elaborating.

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