Son Heung-min’s finishing fails in World Cup heartbreak
South Korea crashed out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on June 25 after a 0-1 defeat to South Africa in Monterrey, Mexico. The defeat left Hong Myung-bo’s side with 1 win and 2 losses in Group A, placing them third and eliminating them from automatic qualification. Standing: 3rd in World Cup, 3 pts, 1W-0D-2L from 3 games, recent form LLW.
US Sports Illustrated (SI) pointed to Son Heung-min’s poor finishing as a key reason for the exit. While Korea impressed in their 1-1 draw with Czechia, they managed just one shot on target from seven attempts against South Africa. His expected goals (xG) stood at 1.05, yet he failed to score. SI bluntly stated that “Son’s power seems exhausted” and that he “did not deliver his usual finishing.”
Hong Myung-bo’s fate hangs in the balance
The loss to South Africa has left Hong Myung-bo exposed to all criticism. SI argued that “if Son had delivered his usual scoring touch, Hong’s fate might have been different.” Korea’s campaign ended with back-to-back 0-1 defeats to Mexico and South Africa, 2 goals scored, 3 conceded (-1 goal difference).
SI’s damning verdict on Son
SI praised Son as the heart of Korean football for the past decade. With 127 caps, he entered the tournament just two goals shy of Cha Bum-kun’s national-team record (30 goals). Yet on the World Cup stage, he underperformed. His 0.15 xG per shot ranked among the tournament’s best, but he failed to convert key chances.
Where does Korea go from here?
With automatic qualification lost, Korea’s World Cup journey ended in the group stage. While a slim chance remains via other group outcomes, Mexico leads the group by six points. The team now faces a moment to reset and rebuild ahead of future challenges. Recent form over five games: 3 wins, 1 draw, 1 loss (WWWLD).
