Hong Myung-bo takes a moment during a press conference announcing his resignation as head coach of the South Korean men's national football team at Chivas Verde Valle in Zapopan, Mexico, Sunday (local time). Yonhap
Criticism of the Korea Football Association (KFA) and its president Chung Mong-gyu over a long-controversial coaching appointment process is mounting after Korea's failure to reach the round of 32 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The 34th-place finish out of 48 nations — the worst in the country's World Cup history — has put a spotlight on years of mismanagement at the KFA, from a pattern of opaque hiring decisions to procedural breakdowns that sidelined its own committee for national team development.
Klinsmann debacle
In 2023, the KFA appointed Jurgen Klinsmann, a former Germany striker and German national team manager, as head coach of the Korean men's national football team. However, he quickly drew criticism for spending only 67 days in Korea during his first six months while passing much of his time at his home in the United States.
