Son Heung-min apologizes to fans after Korea's World Cup exit
Captain Son Heung-min broke his silence with a public apology to fans on Instagram after Korea failed to advance past the group stage at the World Cup.
Son Heung-min, covers his face with his uniform after Korea's 0-1 loss against South Africa in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group A match at Monterrey Stadium in Guadalupe, Mexico, on June 24.YONHAP
Son Heung-min, captain of Korea's national football team, apologized to fans on Monday, or early Tuesday in Korea, for the team's failure to reach the round of 32 at the FIFA World Cup 2026, breaking days of silence after an early group-stage exit.
Korea finished third in Group A with one win and two losses, falling short of the round of 32 at the expanded 48-team World Cup. The competition was the fourth of Son's career and, at 33 years old, could be his last.
The Los Angeles FC forward posted the lengthy message on Instagram about an hour before an advance group of players that included former manager Hong Myung-bo and defender Kim Min-jae landed at Incheon International Airport. Son is scheduled to arrive on Wednesday.
"I don't know where to begin," Son said in the post. "I can't pretend nothing happened, and I don't want to run away from reality. First and foremost, I want to sincerely apologize to the people of Korea and to all the fans who love football."
He said he could picture what supporters had endured watching the team go out.
"As someone who loves football, if I had watched a match like this, I think I would have felt truly disappointed, frustrated and drained," Son said.
Above all, he had wanted to reach the fans directly.
"I wanted to say at least this much to the fans, who must be going through the hardest time of all, with so many emotions crossing their minds every day and every moment," Son said. "This was a tournament that meant the world to me, and it feels as if the 'stage of a child's dream' that I have always talked about has collapsed, leaving me troubled and heartbroken beyond words."
Son Heung-min's Instagram post, uploaded on June 29SCREEN CAPTURE
The result, he admitted, was still hard to take in.
"Honestly, even now it isn't easy to accept this reality," Son said. "When I think of the fans, who must be carrying far greater disappointment and hurt than I am, I feel hesitant even to speak about how I feel, but I believe what the fans are feeling is not so different from what I feel."
Son said he was conscious of how much had been given up for the team to reach the tournament.
"I know very well how much was sacrificed for this stage," he said. "I feel a heavy responsibility for ultimately failing to repay the time and heart you gave us, along with your unwavering support and love."
He apologized once more and thanked those who had stood by the team.
"I am truly, deeply sorry," Son said. "And I sincerely thank everyone who believed in us, cheered for us and stayed with us to the very end."
Son Heung-min trains at the Chivas Verde Valle training facility, near Guadalajara, Mexico, on June 27.NEWS1
Then he vowed to come back.
"Rather than put it all into words now, I will give my best again from where I stand to win back the hearts of the Korean people and football fans," Son said. "I will run as if my life depends on it to bring you joy once more. I have never forgotten the promise I made to the fans. Until the day you look for me again, until the day you need me, I will pour everything I have into preparing myself well."
Son closed with a request on behalf of his teammates.
"I know this is hard, but rather than heaping too much criticism and hurt on all the players, I sincerely ask you to send them warmth, support and encouragement," he said.
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.
