https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7392920/2026/06/25/son-heung-min-south-korea-world-cup-identity/
South Korea has been officially eliminated from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, following their third-place finish in Group A. The team’s fate was sealed after losing 1-0 to South Africa on June 24, a match that became decisive due to the exclusion of captain Son Heung-Min from the starting lineup. South Korea managed a victory against the Czech Republic but could not secure enough points to advance. The elimination ends their tournament run, as their ranking was insufficient to qualify as one of the best third-placed teams.
Key Takeaways
Market pricing reflects South Korea’s confirmed group stage elimination, consistent with no remaining Round of 16 advancement scenarios.
Observations indicate that South Korea’s elimination was influenced by critical match decisions and unfavorable group results.
