The South Korea national football team lost 0-1 to Mexico in the 2026 World Cup. Coach Hong Myung-bo's midfield strategy was criticized. Despite the efforts of Son Heung-min and Lee Kang-in, the team struggled to attack due to the lack of midfield play. South Korea's Hong Myung-bo had consistently emphasized the importance of quick transitions and high-pressing, but in doing so, the team often bypassed the midfield, directly connecting the defense to the attack. This resulted in a lack of creativity and control in the midfield. The match against Mexico was a prime example of this issue. Mexico, on the other hand, was able to dictate the tempo of the game through their midfielders, including Eric Lira and Luis Chavez. South Korea's reliance on long passes and wing play made it difficult for them to create scoring opportunities. The team's decision to play Son Heung-min as a lone striker also had its drawbacks. While Son's ability to make runs behind the defense is a significant asset, the team's tendency to launch long passes to him often resulted in the opposition's defense being able to prepare and respond. Lee Kang-in's individual creativity was also relied upon too heavily, as he often had to drop deep to collect the ball and start attacks. However, this meant that the team's midfield was often bypassed, and the opposition was able to gain control of the game. South Korea was unable to create many scoring opportunities throughout the match, and even after conceding, the introduction of players like Oh Hyun-kyu, Hwang Hee-chan, and Cho Gyu-sung failed to change the team's fortunes. The problem lies not with the players, but with the team's tactical structure. With their next match against South Africa being a must-win, Hong Myung-bo's team will need to address these issues and find a way to overcome them if they are to advance to the knockout stages.