Korea national football team coach Hong Myung-bo listens to a reporter's question during a press conference before a recovery training session at Chivas Verde Valle in Zapopan, Mexico, on June 25, after the team returned to its base camp in Guadalajara.YONHAP
Korea national football team coach Hong Myung-bo insisted that there are no internal problems within the squad despite growing criticism following the team's disappointing defeat to South Africa on Wednesday.
Hong admitted that the atmosphere was somewhat unsettled during the match against Mexico, but shot down suggestions of discord within the team.
"There was a somewhat uneasy atmosphere during the Mexico match, but I don't think there are any problems within the squad," Hong told reporters before a recovery session at Chivas Verde Valle, Korea's base camp in Guadalajara, Mexico.
"[The players] tend to be very sensitive and meticulous in their preparation, so I don't think that's the issue," he said.
Hong's side lost 1-0 to South Africa on Wednesday in its final Group A match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a result that dropped Korea to third in the group and left its hopes of reaching the round of 32 in limbo.
The performance fell well short of expectations. Korea struggled with sluggish movement, inaccurate passing and poor decision-making, while the team's organization also appeared to unravel.
The sharp decline in performance compared with its 2-1 victory over the Czech Republic in the opener and its strong showing against Mexico in the second match prompted speculation that the squad could be dealing with internal issues.
The Korean national football team gets ready for a recovery training session at Chivas Verde Valle in Zapopan, Mexico, on June 25.NEWS1
"We are also puzzled about why we played like that," Hong said. "I think the players wanted to do too well and were determined to settle everything in the match [against South Africa]. The mental and psychological pressure, combined with the hot weather, seems to have affected our performance. I plan to talk with the players today."
The team has also faced off-pitch controversy since the South Africa defeat. Defender Seol Young-woo indicated he would take legal action against malicious online comments, while Lee Kang-in of Paris Saint-Germain has come under scrutiny over his attitude during matches.
"I don't think I've ever experienced a tournament this undisturbed both on and off the field," Hong said. "The 2014 World Cup in Brazil was about 50 times more difficult. The issues being raised now are just the result of poor performances."
"Not just footballers — anyone tends to blame others when results are bad," he added. "I told the players to blame me instead. Even after Kim Seung-gyu's mistake against Mexico, I told them not to blame him but to blame me, because I'm the coach who failed to prepare the team for that situation."
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
