South Korea's captain Son Heung-min has publicly apologized for the country's failure to make it to the 2026 FIFA World Cup but also said fans should not give up on the team because the time of the team is not good enough.
The apology came after head coach Hong Myung-bo resigned, accepting responsibility for South Korea’s poor performance in the group stage. The Taeguk Warriors were eliminated as results elsewhere confirmed they would not qualify as one of the tournament’s best third-placed teams.
South Korea had a lot of expectation on them at the World Cup. With experienced captain Son Heung-min and players like Lee Kang-in of Paris Saint-Germain and Kim Min-jae of Bayern Munich, many believed the team had enough quality to comfortably reach the knockout rounds.
Sitting in the same group as Mexico, the Czech Republic and South Africa, South Korea started their preparation well by defeating the Czech Republic 2-1. But consecutive defeats against Mexico and South Africa ended their campaign and South Korea had to rely on good results in other groups. The results never came and South Korea’s World Cup journey was over far from home.
After the elimination, Son went to Instagram to say thanks to his fans in a message that was both a sadness and a sense of responsibility as captain.
"I don’t know where to begin. I can’t pretend I don’t know what happened, nor do I want to escape reality,” Son wrote.
"First and foremost, I would like to apologize to the people of South Korea and to fans who love football."
The 33-year-old said words were not enough to express his regret.
He said: “As a football lover myself, I can only see how heartbreaking, frustrating, and painful it must have been for you to watch a match like this. That’s why I feel that a simple ‘I’m sorry’ cannot even begin to describe the disappointment and hurt you must be feeling."
A Difficult Tournament for South Korea's Captain
The tournament was particularly difficult for Son on a personal level.
One of Asia's most famous footballers, the former Tottenham Hotspur star failed to score or assist in South Korea’s three group-stage matches. He did not achieve the high standards he has consistently maintained for his club and international career.
The captain was also the topic of discussion among fans and analysts during the tournament.
In South Korea's final match against South Africa, coach Hong Myung-bo surprisingly left Son on the bench and brought him in after halftime. Son had also been substituted in the defeat to Mexico earlier in the tournament, a decision that drew criticism after the team’s elimination.
Hong Myung-bo Resigns
The disappointing campaign led to immediate changes in South Korean football and Hong Myung-bo resigned as head coach shortly after the team's elimination.
His exit ends a campaign that started with optimism but ultimately failed to deliver the expected results although the players were some of the world’s most well-known.
Son Not Ready to Retire
Despite the painful elimination, Son said he did not plan to leave international football.
His uncertain future had been speculated on since South Korea's heartbreaking semifinal defeat at the 2024 AFC Asian Cup, where the forward had said retirement from the national team would be a possibility.
But last month he dismissed suggestions that the North American World Cup would be his last appearance on football’s biggest stage.
Son reiterated that commitment in his latest message, and he also made clear that he will continue to represent South Korea with the same passion that has defined his international career.
"I will give it my all to bring joy to you all once again. I have never forgotten the promises I made to our fans. And until you call for me, until you need me, I will prepare myself with everything that I have to do better."
He also pleaded with fans not to criticize the players.
With a new coaching appointment in the future, South Korea will have to start preparing for the next international competitions. Son Heung-min’s message, even though the 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign was a failure for South Korea, will be the message to give the next stage of South Korean football and the national team a strong shot at the global stage.
