The South Korean national football team's hopes of advancing to the round of 32 in the FIFA World Cup 2026 were dashed after Congo Democratic Republic defeated Uzbekistan 3-1 in their final group stage match.

What went wrong?

The result saw South Korea drop to 9th place, resulting in a humiliating exit from the tournament. Under the guidance of coach Hong Myung-bo, the team had been confident of progressing to the next stage, but ultimately fell short.

Why is it important?

The tournament's 48-team format allows the top 8 third-placed teams to advance to the round of 32. However, South Korea's 9th-place finish meant they missed out on this opportunity.

What's next?

The team will hold a press conference on June 29 to reflect on their World Cup campaign. As of June 29, South Korea stands 3rd in the FIFA World Cup 2026 with 3 points, having won 1 and lost 2 of their last 3 games. | Date | Opponent | Result | | --- | --- | --- | | 2025-11-18 | Ghana | 1-0 win | | 2026-06-25 | Uruguay | 0-1 loss | | 2026-06-28 | South Africa | 0-1 loss |