The South Korean squad and former coach Hong Myung-bo were booed at Seoul’s Incheon International Airport on their return from a group stage exit from the 2026 Fifa World Cup.South Koreans at the airport for the team’s arrival at 4am chanted “Hong Myung-bo out”, hurled insults amid drumming and held banners, one of which read, “South Korean football is dead”. Some banners demanded Hong return his salary.South Korea's football team were booed by fans at the airport near Seoul after being knocked out of the World Cup in the group stage. pic.twitter.com/0NITfOp8kT— The Independent (@Independent) June 30, 2026
The coach resigned in Mexico on Sunday, saying: “We didn’t deliver the results our fans expected.”South Korea, boasting players based at top European clubs and ranked in the world’s top 30 going into the tournament, won their opening Group A game 1-0 against Czechia but then lost 1-0 to Mexico. They were heavily favoured to beat Bafana Bafana in their final group game in Monterrey but were shocked 1-0 by the South Africans.South Korea World Cup team faces tragic loss and an even worse welcome coming home as fans call for head Coach Hong Myung Bo’s immediate removal pic.twitter.com/9tcLZ3YhYF— Bims_🖤 (@bi_bimpe) June 30, 2026
