South Korean President Lee Jae-myung has called for an investigation into his national soccer team after it was eliminated from World Cup contention on Saturday, failing to qualify for the knockout rounds despite a heavily expanded Round of 32 in this year’s tournament hosted by the U.S., Mexico and Canada.
“I am not just taken aback by this unexpected outcome, I am utterly baffled,” Mr. Lee wrote Sunday in a lengthy message posted on X. “In the end, it’s proven once again that personnel is everything. When favoritism and cronyism take precedence over competence in selecting a commander, the result is as predictable as fire burning paper.”
South Korea finished third in Group A, which was widely considered a weaker group at this year’s tournament. Led by star forward Son Heung Min, most analysts predicted that South Korea would advance from a group that featured Mexico, South Africa and Czechia.
But the South Korean squad, known to supporters as the “Reds,” finished in third place after managing just three points. They secured a 2-1 win against Czechia in the opener before losing 1-0 in back-to-back matches against South Africa and Mexico.
The top eight third-place teams qualified for the Round of 32. South Korea finished as the tenth-best third-place squad.
Senegal, which also secured three points, received the final knockout berth thanks to a positive goal differential.
South Korea qualified for the knockout rounds in 2022, 2010 and 2002. But expectations, thanks to the star power of Son, were high.
Mr. Lee and South Korean analysts levied heavy criticism at coach Hong Myung-bo, who was appointed by the Korea Football Association in 2024.
Mr. Hong’s lack of tactical adjustments infuriated fans and members of the South Korean government.
“He silenced players with authoritarian tactics, kept Son Heung-min on the bench, and isolated forwards with an outdated three-back formation,” Rep. Joo Jin-Woo said, according to Seoul Economic Daily, noting that the result was “a disaster of Hong Myung-bo’s lack of leadership.”
Mr. Lee urged federal officials to open an investigation into the Korea Football Association’s decision-making to avoid future disappointments.
“This failure to qualify for the World Cup finals, which has left the public feeling empty, appears to be a failure of organization and personnel,” Mr. Lee said. “Given that significant national taxpayer funds and state support resources are invested even in World Cup participation, I ask that the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism meticulously address the precise circumstances of this incident, analyze its causes, and develop thorough measures for preventing recurrence and improvement.”
The Reds’ World Cup experience was troubled throughout.
South Korean players skipped interviews with domestic reporters after journalists were heard criticizing Son’s military service during a training session.
The Korea Football Association said in a statement that the comments “were a great shock and disappointment” to players who were “doing their best to repay the support and expectations of the people.”
