The men”s national football team of Korea had a year that, on the surface, seemed successful with eight wins, three draws, and two losses. However, a deeper analysis reveals a team with serious flaws that need to be addressed before the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Under the guidance of coach Hong Myung-bo, the team”s recent victories included a 2-0 win against No. 76 Bolivia and a narrow 1-0 victory over No. 73 Ghana in their final matches of the year. While Hong emphasized the importance of results to maintain their FIFA ranking and secure a favorable position in the upcoming World Cup draw, the team”s inability to convincingly defeat weaker opponents left many fans dissatisfied.
This pattern of underperformance has been a recurring theme throughout the year. Korea began 2023 with disappointing 1-1 draws against two low-ranked teams, Oman and Jordan, which Hong described as “the worst performance” of that qualification phase. After those draws, the team managed to secure their spot in the World Cup with victories in the following matches. In July, while hosting the East Asian Football Federation E-1 Football Championship, Korea recorded wins against China and Hong Kong but faltered against Japan in the finals.
In September, Korea traveled to the United States for two friendly matches, where they achieved a notable 2-0 victory over the U.S. and drew 2-2 with Mexico. The match against the U.S. showcased the team”s potential, with a solid defensive performance and contributions from captain Son Heung-min, who scored and assisted in the game. However, the joy was short-lived as Korea faced a humiliating 5-0 defeat to Brazil at the Seoul World Cup Stadium in October. This loss prompted a decline in fan attendance, with only 22,000 spectators present for the subsequent match against Paraguay, marking the lowest turnout for a men”s national team match in a decade.
With the Ghana match attracting around 33,000 fans, it was evident that the team”s performance had impacted their support. Coach Hong has faced criticism for his tactical approach, which some perceive as lacking innovation and overly reliant on individual talent. The team”s offensive structure has often appeared stagnant and predictable, particularly when facing tougher opponents at the World Cup, where defenses will likely focus heavily on stars like Son and playmaker Lee Kang-in.
In the recent matches, Korea noticeably missed midfielder Hwang In-beom, who was sidelined with a thigh injury. His absence highlighted the deficiencies in the midfield, with other players unable to replicate his two-way play and creativity. Hong acknowledged that the midfield”s performance negatively affected the overall team dynamic against Ghana but expressed optimism about Hwang”s return for the World Cup.
Lee Kang-in, who has emerged as a key leader for the team, stated that the players are aware of the fans” concerns and are focused on improving their performance. “Football fans all have different perspectives, and even players have different ways of watching and understanding the game. I can totally see why fans feel the way they do about our team,” he remarked. “However, rather than paying much attention to those voices, we”re all trying to help the team the best we can.”
Veteran player Hwang Hee-chan noted that despite the criticisms, the team achieved a fruitful year with significant victories. He emphasized the importance of results in football and expressed confidence in the team”s growth after the recent camp. “These two matches here were huge. This camp brought us even closer as a team, and we”ve grown more confident that we can really get the job done,” Hwang stated, looking forward to the next match window in March.
