South Korea’s national team suffered a collapse at the FIFA World Cup 2026 after players grew complacent following their Czech Republic win. New details reveal training neglect and internal issues that critics say derailed their campaign. With just one win from three games and two straight losses, the Taegeuk Warriors sit third in their group.

Who is to blame?

At a National Assembly forum, Kim Se-hoon of Kyunghyang Shinmun argued that while manager Hong Myung-bo bears responsibility, the players’ own failures were the bigger issue. He pointed to “players growing too relaxed after beating the Czechs,” adding that scheduled training sessions were skipped. The moment when Lee Kang-in was surrounded by South African defenders and no teammate rushed to help was cited as proof that even basic instincts were abandoned—no one’s fault but the players’.

Captain Son Heung-min also faced scrutiny. Kim noted, “Son worked harder than anyone, but as captain he failed to rally the team. No assists, no goals—his leadership fell short.”

Why South Korea stumbled

Kim argued the core problem was a breakdown between leadership and followership. “Every organization needs both a leader and followers who step up. When that balance fails, results collapse.” He also criticized the KFA for taking five months to name Hong after the 2024 Asian Cup loss to Jordan.

Hong’s defensive style and inability to adapt under media pressure were cited as weaknesses. Despite preaching “one team,” the squad never truly coalesced. Kim cautioned, “Turning the manager into a punching bag won’t help Korean football.”

What comes next

Kim warned, “The current situation feels like a remedial classroom—something must change before it gets worse.” While public sympathy for the players runs high, he stressed that criticism is unavoidable. He also questioned whether media and YouTubers fueled clickbait over real analysis.

South Korea currently sits third in their group with three points (1W-2L) after losing 1-0 to South Africa on June 25. Their recent form reads three wins and two losses in the last five (LLWWW), but the last two matches were defeats that erased momentum. They trail group leaders Mexico by six points.

Bottom line

Korea’s World Cup 2026 stumble can’t be pinned on one man. Player complacency and poor self-management led to the slide, leaving the Taegeuk Warriors on the brink of group-stage elimination.