Hong Myung-bo resigned as head coach of South Korea's men's national football team during a June 29 press conference in Zapopan, Mexico, one day after the team's elimination from the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Hong Myung-bo told a prepared statement at the team's training site in Zapopan. "Today, I am stepping down as head coach of the South Korean men's national football team," he said. "We didn't deliver the results that our fans expected, and the responsibility rests entirely with me as head coach."
South Korea finished third in Group A with three points after a 2-1 win over Czechia on June 11 and 1-0 losses to Mexico and South Africa. The team ended tenth among third-placed sides on June 27 and missed the knockout stage.
Hong, 57, began his second stint in July 2024 with a contract through the 2027 AFC Asian Cup. He is the only coach to lead South Korea at two World Cups, having also exited in the group stage in 2014.
"Even though I am leaving the national team, I am not abandoning Korean football altogether," Hong said. He and eight players are scheduled to return to South Korea early on Tuesday.
