Second time alarm? Hong’s pre-World Cup 'experiments' cast doubt on success in return as manager.

Korea returned battered and broken, its World Cup outlook even darker than before, from the hurricane that was its European trip, as coach Hong Myung-bo’s latest tinkering “experiments” did little to steady the ship.

2026-04-02

In 4-0 drubbing by Ivory Coast, Korea ran dry after hydration break while opponent flooded scoreboard

Korea’s 4-0 loss to Ivory Coast in a friendly on Saturday showed how the new hydration break system can turn a brief pause into a tactical turning point, but Korea national team manager Hong Myung-bo failed to make effective use of the stoppage.

2026-03-31

Korea national team manager checks in on Europe-based players ahead of World Cup

Hong Myung-bo, manager of the Korea national team, has begun the final stretch of preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup by taking a closer look at the players who could shape his squad.

2026-03-04

Korea national football team to play Ivory Coast in friendly ahead of World Cup

Korea will face Ivory Coast in a friendly on March 28 in Britain as part of a tune-up series ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the Korea Football Association announced on Tuesday.

2026-02-11

Korea coach sees no easy opponent in World Cup group

Though Korea avoided a top-10 opponent in the group stage of next year's FIFA World Cup, national team coach Hong Myung-bo said on Friday that there is no easy opponent.

2025-12-06

Korea coach finds it tough to predict best-case scenario at World Cup draw

Korea men's football head coach Hong Myung-bo said Wednesday he could not yet predict the best possible scenario for his side at the upcoming draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

2025-12-04

Function over form: Hong Myung-bo still has footballing critics despite record

Opinions are split within the football community on Hong Myung-bo, the manager of the Korean national football team, as the calendar flips to the year of the World Cup.

2025-11-20

Hong has last chance of year to test Taeguk Warriors players, tactics with November friendlies

The Korean national football team will play its final two friendlies of the year in November, facing Bolivia in Daejeon on Nov. 14 and Ghana in Seoul on Nov. 18. The next international window will not come until March 2026.

2025-10-31

Deep in thought

Korean national football team head coach Hong Myung-bo wears a pensive expression during an official training session at Goyang Stadium Auxiliary Field in Goyang, Gyeonggi, on Oct. 12.

2025-10-12

Three-back approach flops in friendly clobbering by Brazil

While Korean national team manager Hong Myung-bo’s three-back experiment showed potential in earlier matches against the United States and Mexico, it completely fell apart against Brazil, exposing Korea’s defensive vulnerabilities.