Son Heung-min, South Korea’s 33-year-old captain and the most decorated Korean footballer of his generation, watched from the bench as his team lost to South Africa in a group-stage match that now threatens to end their 2026 World Cup campaign before it truly began. The decision to sit Son has ignited a firestorm of criticism back home, compounding what was already a turbulent tournament for the squad.
A gamble born from frustration
To understand why Hong made such a drastic call, you have to rewind to South Korea’s opening match. On June 12, the team edged past Czechia 2-1, with Hwang In-beom and Oh Hyeon-gyu finding the net. Son, despite being the focal point of the attack, failed to convert his scoring chances. For a player who built his reputation on clinical finishing during years at Tottenham and now plies his trade at LAFC, the misses were conspicuous. Hong apparently saw enough to warrant a change.
Off-field turmoil muddying the waters
The squad had already been dealing with a self-inflicted media crisis that added layers of tension to an already high-pressure environment. On June 7, during a training session, Son’s military service record became the subject of mockery. The fallout was swift and dramatic. The entire squad imposed a media blackout, essentially cutting off communication with journalists in the days leading up to tournament play.
