The South Korean football team is in crisis after being eliminated from the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The BBC has criticized the team, saying they need to acknowledge their reality and make significant reforms.

What's the problem?

The problem with South Korean football is not just the result of this World Cup, but it's connected to the structural problems of the Korean Football Association. The BBC pointed out that the appointment of Hong Myung-bo as the manager in 2024 was criticized for not following the proper procedure, and there were controversies over fairness and transparency.

Why is it important?

The competitive landscape between South Korean and Japanese football has completely changed. South Korea was ahead of Japan by 10 years when they launched the K-League, Asia's first professional football league, in 1983. They also had an advantage in the Asian club competitions and had qualified for the World Cup 11 times in a row.

What's the current situation?

Currently, the South Korean football team is in 3rd place with 3 points. Their recent performance is 3 wins, 1 draw, and 1 loss in the last 5 games, and they won the last game 1-0. | Date | Opponent | Result | | --- | --- | --- | | 2025-11-18 | Ghana | 1-0 win |

What needs to be done?

South Korean football needs to take Japan as a model. Japan beat Brazil 3-2 in Tokyo and defeated England 1-0 at Wembley. South Korea needs to benchmark Japan's achievements and reform themselves.