Korea Football Association Offers Sincere Apology for World Cup Results... Denies Rumors of Discord Between Hong Myungbo and Son Heungmin

Deliberating the Appointment of a New Head Coach

The Korea Football Association has officially apologized in relation to the national team's elimination in the group stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North and Central America.

Korea Football Association

On July 3, the association posted on Instagram, stating, "We sincerely apologize for disappointing you with results that did not meet expectations at the 2026 North and Central America World Cup," adding, "We will take the failure of this tournament as a lesson and prepare for the future of Korean football through deep reflection and self-examination. We will humbly accept all criticism and strive to build a better Korean football."

However, the association also clarified its position by saying, "We would like to inform you that various reports based on unverified tips that have recently been turned into news are completely unfounded." This is interpreted as a response to various rumors, including alleged conflicts within the national team over an interview boycott during the World Cup and speculation about discord between former head coach Hong Myungbo and player Son Heungmin.

Furthermore, the association stated, "The Power Reinforcement Committee held a meeting today (the 3rd) and agreed to review various directions regarding the appointment of a new manager. The committee plans to continue discussions through follow-up meetings to ensure that the national team can prepare for the Asian Cup without any disruptions, prioritizing the stability of the team's management for the upcoming A-match schedule in the second half of the year." The current committee, which was appointed in May last year, completed its reappointment this May in accordance with the association's bylaws.

The association went on to add, "According to the current bylaws, if the president's seat becomes vacant, an election must be held within 60 days. The election system must be based on compliance with the association's bylaws and must not conflict with the statutes of the Korea Football Association's higher bodies, FIFA and the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee." Accordingly, the association indicated it is carefully considering the process for the presidential election.

Once again, the association apologized by saying, "We deeply apologize to the football fans who genuinely care about Korean football for causing concern, and we promise to continue striving to uphold the noble values and purity that are at the heart of football."

Meanwhile, Chung Monggyu, president of the Korea Football Association, announced in May his intention to resign after the conclusion of the North and Central America World Cup, and former head coach Hong Myungbo also offered his resignation in Mexico after the team's elimination from the group stage was confirmed.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.