S. Korea Team Returns Home to Angry Reception after World Cup Exit

Former South Korea head coach Hong Myung-bo and several members of the national team were met with boos from frustrated supporters as they returned home on Tuesday following the country's group-stage elimination from the 2026 FIFA World Cup. 

South Korea fans have turned on Hong Myung-bo. 🇰🇷😳

🚨 Following South Korea’s World Cup group-stage exit and his resignation, some fans are demanding that Hong Myung-bo should never coach in South Korea again.

💬 Some supporters say he “should no longer be part of Korean… pic.twitter.com/DIWgandNB0

— Pitch Wire (@wire_pitch) June 29, 2026

Hong, who resigned shortly after the tournament to take responsibility for the disappointing campaign, arrived at Incheon International Airport alongside nine players, including Lee Kang-in, Kim Min-jae, and Hwang Hee-chan.

🚨 | 𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆: 𝐇𝐎𝐍𝐆 𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐈𝐕𝐄𝐒 𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐍𝐂𝐇𝐄𝐎𝐍

Hong and several players arrived at 4AM hoping to avoid protesters, but a large crowd was waiting. 🤯

Fans banged drums, chanted "Hong Myung-bo out!" & hurled curses/insults at the coach. 🫡🇰🇷 pic.twitter.com/X2XWlEjLGW

— Joel Kim (@KNTFootball) June 29, 2026

South Korea finished third in Group A with three points after opening the tournament with a 2-1 victory over Czechia before suffering consecutive 1-0 defeats to Mexico and South Africa. 

Despite the expanded tournament format allowing the eight best third-placed teams to advance, the Taegeuk Warriors ranked 10th among the 12 third-place finishers and missed out on a place in the knockout stage.

Hundreds of supporters gathered at the airport to express their disappointment, chanting against Hong and displaying banners criticizing the state of South Korean football. 

Police officers formed a security cordon as the former coach left the terminal without speaking to reporters.

The Korea Football Association also canceled its traditional welcome ceremony for the returning squad, marking the first time it has done so following an away World Cup since 2002.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has called for a full review of the national team's disappointing World Cup campaign, urging the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to investigate the causes behind the early exit and recommend measures to prevent similar failures in the future.

Hong's resignation ended his second spell in charge of the national team. He accepted full responsibility for South Korea's early exit, having also failed to guide the country beyond the group stage at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.