THE HALFAX HEIMDALL AUGUR

South Korea fans launch petition called for World Cup coach to be axed ByTARA ANSON-WALSH, FOOTBALL REPORTER Published:09:27 EDT, 26 June 2026|Updated:09:33 EDT, 26 June 2026 20 Viewcomments South Korea head coach Hong Myung-bo is facing calls to step down following the country's disastrous World Cup campaign, which saw them lose 1-0 to Group A weak-linksSouth Africa. It wasn't just the result, which leaves their World Cup campaign hanging in the balance, that had South Korean fans raising their fists - but the manner in which they lost, dominating the ball but failing to create any clear-cut chances in a game which was far from eye-catching. Only a tame Oh Hyeon-gyu header and an early Lee Kang-in strike were among their rare chances, and a petition calling for Hong to be sacked called it 'lifeless' and 'one of the worst displays by a Korean team' in their World Cup history - which leaves them anxious to see results go in their favour to book one of the eight third-place spots to progress to the knockout rounds. The most controversial moment actually arrived before the game, with captainSon Heung-mindropped from the starting line-up for the first ever time in the former Sp…

Why are South Korean fans so angry at their football coach? Hong Myung-bo has resigned after South Korea failed to advance to the World Cup knockout stages.

'No Hong' signs greet embattled former coach in US A business owner posts a sign barring former Korea national football team coach Hong Myung-bo from entering a business establishment in Los Angeles. Captured from Instagram SEATTLE — Koreans in Los Angeles had hoped to watch Korea play there during the World Cup knockout stage. Instead, they are reacting to the arrival of former coach Hong Myung-bo, whose handling of the national team's World Cup campaign has made him one of the country's most criticized sports figures. Hong arrived in Los Angeles on Thursday, just days after stepping down following Korea's disappointing World Cup exit. His departure came as lawmakers prepared to question football officials over the Korea Football Association's (KFA) handling of the national team amid growing calls for accountability over its performance. The frustration was evident not only in online posts but also on storefronts across Los Angeles' Korean community. Photos shared on Threads and Instagram showed restaurants, cafes and grocery stores posting signs barring Hong from entering. One proposal gained traction on the Korean American online forum MissyUSA, where a user suggested loca…

South Korea police investigate death threat against Hong Myung-bo after ... Home criminal hardcore news off field protest south korea world cup 2026 South Korea police investigate death threat against Hong Myung-bo after World Cup exit June 29, 2026 • 0 • min read Table of Contents KEY TAKEAWAYS Hong Myung-bo is under police protection after an alleged online death threat. South Korea exited the World Cup after finishing third in Group A. President Lee Jae-myung has called for a full review of the national team setup. South Korean police have opened an investigation after national team head coach Hong Myung-bo became the target of a death threat following the country's disappointing exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The former South Korea captain, regarded as one of the nation's greatest footballers, has faced intense criticism since the Taegeuk Warriors failed to reach the Round of 32. However, authorities say public anger crossed a dangerous line after an online post threatened to kill Hong upon his return to South Korea. Police respond to serious online threat According to local authorities, the threat was posted online by an individual claiming to be a 41-year-old American ci…

South Korea coach quits after early World Cup exit prompts fierce ... By JIM VERTUNO Former South Korea head coach Hong Myung-bo and nine of the 26 players in the South Korea squad landed at Incheon International Airport near Seoul under heavy security. South Korea’s Yonhap news reported that fans shouted “Hong Myung-bo, get out!” while one held up a banner that read, “Korean Football Is Dead.” South Korea finished 10th among the twelve nations that finished third in their groups. Hong resigned Sunday after the team’s quick elimination from the World Cup drew a harsh condemnation from the country’s president, who called the coach “incapable” and ordered a complete review of the national team program. South Korea won its opening match against Czech Republic, then lost its next two Group A matches to South Africa and Mexico. South Korea hoped it would qualify for the next round as one of the third-place teams to advance in this year’s expanded tournament. That ended when Congo defeated Uzbekistan 3-1 on Saturday. The quick exit for a team that expected to advance left the national team program in turmoil and drew a sharp rebuke from President Lee Jae Myung. He leveled pointed critic…

Disgraced South Korea Soccer Coach Flees to U.S. amid Death Threats ... Former South Korean national soccer team coach Hong Myung-bo, who resigned last week after a disappointing performance at the FIFA World Cup, reportedly fled the country to Los Angeles on Thursday just days after arriving to an angry mob demanding he return his salary. South Korea existed the once-in-four-years tournament last week before the beginning of the “knockout” rounds after losing two of its three matches in the group stage. South Korean soccer fans expected their team to perform at a much higher level as several players on the team are members of high-level European soccer clubs and the other members of the group – Mexico, South Africa, and Czechia – were considered beatable opponents. Public sentiment has almost entirely blamed Hong for the failure, who was a highly unpopular choice to coach the team when chosen in 2024. He is the only person to have ever coached the South Korean team in two non-consecutive World Cup tournaments, also resulting in a disappointing performance in 2014. Many soccer fans, journalists, and others accused the Korean Football Federation (KFA) of inappropriately choosing Ho…

'Sharp Criticism of Jeong Mong-gyu → Sudden Declaration of Support ... *This content was translated by AI. "Concerns also raised over criticism directed at the national team coaching staff" "Everyone must unite for a successful World Cup" A scene from the launch ceremony of the Football Coaches Association of Korea in June 2024. The Football Coaches Association of Korea stated, "We recognize and respect that there are various opinions," regarding Jeong Mong-gyu, the president of the Korea Football Association (KFA), who announced his intention to resign after the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North, Central America, and the Caribbean. However, it added, "We express regret and disappointment that the resignation (announcement) was made at a critical time when everyone must unite to ensure the stable operation of the national team and strengthen the competitiveness of Korean football ahead of the World Cup." On the 8th, the Football Coaches Association issued a statement saying, "We cannot but be concerned that excessive criticism and controversy surrounding the national team coaching staff continue to persist." It argued, "While sound criticism and checks are essential for the developmen…

South Korea coach Hong Myung-Bo quits after World Cup exit ... - ESPN Less than 24 hours after their elimination from the World Cup was confirmed,South Koreacoach Hong Myung-Bo has announced his resignation. Hong's exit follows a harsh condemnation from the country's president, who called the coach "incapable" and ordered a complete review of the national team program. Hong faced the media Sunday morning in Guadalajara, Mexico, where the team had been staying while awaiting their fate following the conclusion of their Group A campaign Wednesday. The team finished third in Group A with a win and two losses. With results elsewhere not going their way, South Korea's hopes of reaching the round of 32 as one of the best-performing third-placed teams officially ended Saturday. Reading from a prepared statement, and not taking any questions after, Hong said: "First and foremost, I would like to express my sincere apologies to everyone who loves Korean football and has always supported our national team. Today, I have decided to step down as head coach of the Korea Republic national football team. "Accepting the role of national team head coach was never an easy decision for me. But …

Hong Myung-bo leaves for US amid mounting fallout after South Korea's ... Home news off field protest world cup 2026 Hong Myung-bo leaves for US amid mounting fallout after South Korea's World Cup exit July 04, 2026 • 0 • min read Table of Contents KEY TAKEAWAYS Lamine Yamal is now CIES's most valuable footballer at €358m. Erling Haaland ranks second and Kylian Mbappé third. Youth, contract length and future potential are driving player values. Former South Korea head coach Hong Myung-bo has travelled to the United States just two days after returning home from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as public criticism, political scrutiny and security concerns continue to intensify following the nation's disappointing group-stage exit. Hong resigned immediately after South Korea's elimination from the tournament on 29 June. His departure from the country comes as authorities prepare to investigate the reasons behind the team's failure and online threats against the former coach raise concerns over his safety. Security tightened before Hong's departure Before Hong arrived at Incheon International Airport on 30 June, police reportedly strengthened security after online posts threatened to kill th…

ED World Cup humiliation demands drastic reform - The Korea Times Coach Hong Myung-bo of the Korean national football team looks serious next to players training in Chivas Baye Verde in Sapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, June 27 (local time). Yonhap Korea's elimination from the FIFA World Cup group stage is more than a disappointment. It is the culmination of years of flawed leadership, questionable decision-making and institutional complacency. The time for excuses has long passed. If Korean football is to recover its credibility and competitiveness, both head coach Hong Myung-bo and Korea Football Association (KFA) President Chung Mong-gyu should step aside immediately, and the governing body itself must undergo sweeping structural reform. Chung earlier announced he would quit after the World Cup. Now he should abide by his promise without fail. The team's failure was not simply a matter of bad luck or individual mistakes. It reflected a deeper absence of tactical adaptability and leadership. Throughout the tournament, Korea appeared predictable, reactive and unable to adjust to opponents who had clearly studied and neutralized its strengths. Modern international football rewa…

Former Korea coach Paulo Bento seeks national team return: report As the Korea Football Association searches for a successor to Hong Myung-bo, local media have once again floated the name of former national team coach Paulo Bento. The association, however, has denied reports that Bento has formally applied for the job. Local media reported Tuesday that the Portuguese coach, who managed the South Korean national team for four years and four months, had expressed interest in the position through an acquaintance at the KFA. Citing an unnamed source, the reports said no formal application had been submitted but that a KFA employee had received a message indicating Bento was interested in returning. The reports came a day after the KFA denied separate media reports that Bento had formally applied for the position. The KFA said Monday that no formal process to appoint the next national team coach — including accepting applications — had begun, dismissing reports that Bento had submitted an application as "groundless." The speculation comes as the KFA searches for a successor to Hong, who resigned on June 28 amid mounting pressure following South Korea's early exit from the 2026 FIF…

After Asia's World Cup stumble, resignations pile up from Seoul to Riyadh Seoul | The fallout in Asian football continues as the continent comes to terms with an underwhelming World Cup performance. On Monday, Chung Mong-gyu stepped down as president of the Korea Football Association. His departure follows harsh criticism from the country's president and the resignation of coach Hong Myung-bo last week after South Korea's group-stage exit that culminated in a 1-0 loss to South Africa. "There were moments when I lived up to expectations and moments when I left you deeply disappointed," said Chung, who has held the role since 2013. "All the success is thanks to our players and fans, and all the mistakes are my responsibility. "I am convinced that Korean football will overcome adversity and reach great heights once again, as it always has." South Korea's soccer superstar Son Heung-min apologized for the team's performance in a long social media post where he said he was "indescribably hurt" and eager to "win the hearts" of the nation once again. The day after Hong stood down as South Korea's coach, Yasser Al-Misehal quit as Saudi Arabia Football Federation president as the team …

Gamst blasts Hong Myung-bo, calls for his resignation after South Korea ... South Korea national football team head coach Hong Myung-bo listens to reporters' questions. Amid South Korea's failure to advance past the group stage at the 2026 North America World Cup, football content creator Gamst unleashed a torrent of criticism at head coach Hong Myung-bo and the Korea Football Association. On Sunday, Gamst posted a video titled "Gamst — Korea eliminated in the group stage… Hong Myung-bo, get out!!" to his YouTube channel. "We're out. Every possible scenario fell apart," he said in the video. "Honestly, if we had just beaten or drawn with South Africa, it would have been over." Gamst said the team "threw away the entire first half" against South Africa by not fielding key players such as Son Heung-min and Lee Jae-sung from the start. "Is it right that what could be Son Heung-min's last World Cup ends with a substitute appearance against South Africa?" he said. He also took aim at Hong's tactical decisions, saying he had "no idea what kind of delusion of grandeur leads him to draw up such bizarre tactics." Gamst also took issue with Hong's demeanor after the match. "If he had even a…

The Korea Football Association officially denied reports that former ... The Korea Football Association officially denied reports that former coach Paulo Bento, who led the Korean national soccer team to the round of 16 at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, applied for the head coach position. After former coach Hong Myung-bo resigned from the 2026 North American World Cup due to poor performance, the national team coach position is currently vacant. Earlier, while the Pursuit Association's Power Reinforcement Committee is looking for a replacement, it was reported that former head coach Bento was the first to apply for the manager's position. Then, the Korea Football Association denied through the media, saying, "No process has yet begun, such as receiving applications related to the manager's position," adding, "It is not true that former coach Bento applied." Former head coach Bento took the helm of the Korean national team from 2018 to 2022 and led them to the round of 16 at the 2022 Gakar World Cup. However, he hoped to extend his contract and stay after the competition, but it was not achieved in the end. However, when the Korean national team was eliminated from the group s…

'Spit out the money and quit!' : World Cup heartbreak turns ugly as ... 'Spit out the money and quit!' : World Cup heartbreak turns ugly as South Korea coach faces boos, airport protests and death threats Sneha Kumari | Jun 30, 2026, 09:20 IST Share South Korea's disappointing FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign has sparked intense reactions among supporters, with emotional scenes unfolding as the team returned home. A controversial decision, growing frustration with leadership and passionate fan responses have dominated online discussions, leaving many debating what went wrong and what comes next for Korean football. Image credit : X and YONHAP | South Korea's World Cup dream ends in chaos amid 'Hong Out' chants The World Cup exit wasn't just a mere exit for the South Korean fans. Yes, it was the football equivalent of spending months preparing for the biggest exam of your life and believing that you were finally ready to ace it, only to see everything fall apart in the final few minutes. And when the national team returned home after their disappointing FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign, fans made sure everyone knew exactly how they felt. A homecoming that felt more like a protest Usually, …

WATCH: South Korea Coach Fails To Dodge Angry Fans After FIFA World Cup ... FIFA World Cup 2026:The South Korean national football team faced a hostile public reception early Tuesday morning upon arriving at Incheon International Airport after their premature elimination from the FIFA World Cup 2026. Enraged supporters congregated at the arrival terminal to confront the returning travelling party, targeting outgoing head coach Hong Myung-bo following a disastrous initial group stage campaign. The senior leadership group had engineered a quiet return layout to completely bypass public scrutiny by landing at four o'clock in the morning. However, the unexpected operational strategy failed entirely as dozens of dedicated protesters breached terminal security areas. The national team suffered elimination from the premier tournament following consecutive individual defeats within the group phase structure. The squad squandered a solid position by losing their final competitive group match against a lower-ranked South Africa team. The unexpected one-nil loss permanently halted their progression into the subsequent Round of 32 knockout bracket. The early departure matches their poorest…

Soccer Federation Criticism Erupts in Parliament, Hong Myung-bo ... | Summary | Save A A A The fallout from the South Korean national soccer team's elimination from the World Cup group stage reached the confirmation hearing for the prime minister nominee. Lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties pointed to structural problems at the Korea Football Association, with remarks such as "the soccer federation must be thoroughly cleaned out" and "shouldn't we be holding a hearing for coach Hong Myung-bo?" At the confirmation hearing for prime minister nominee Han Sung-sook held at the National Assembly on Wednesday, independent lawmaker Choi Hyuk-jin referenced South Korea's defeat to South Africa in the final group-stage match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America the previous day. "I don't know how many years our lifespans were extended by not watching the soccer match because we were holding the confirmation hearing," he said. He continued, "There is a reality where promising soccer players, unless they come from certain universities, struggle to become national team members no matter how hard they try, and even when selected, they remain on the bench." He argued, "The …

Petition calls for Korea head coach's immediate dismissal after World ... Korea coach Hong Myung-bo leaves the pitch following the Korean national team's 2026 FIFA World Cup Group A match against Mexico in Guadalajara, Mexico, June 18. Reuters-Yonhap A petition is calling for the immediate dismissal of Korean national football team head coach Hong Myung-bo, just hours after the team's 0-1 loss to South Africa in its final Group A match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a defeat that ended Korea's hopes of securing an automatic berth in the Round of 32. The petition, posted on the National Assembly's public petition website on Thursday, is seeking Hong's immediate dismissal and the "introduction of a system to invalidate coaching appointments made in violation of official procedures." Korea head coach Hong Myung-bo attends a press conference in Guadalajara, Thursday, ahead of a recovery training session following Korea's loss against South Africa a day earlier in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Group A match. The Korean national football team has returned to their base camp in Guadalajara and are awaiting the results of other groups to determine whether they will advance to the Round of 32. Y…

For Korea, World Cup disappointment rarely ends at the final whistle I ask the hard questions, so you don't have to 🗞️📝 From coaching exits to angry airport receptions, South Korea has familiar post-World Cup ritual of criticism, accountability For South Korean soccer fans, the pain of an early World Cup exit rarely ends with the final whistle. Instead, disappointment spills into days of public anger, resignations and soul-searching, as the country grapples with another campaign that failed to meet lofty expectations. Under mounting pressure, with criticism reaching as high as President Lee Jae Myung, who called for sweeping reforms of Korean soccer, head coach Hong Myung-bo resigned Sunday, after the team was eliminated in the group stage of the World Cup. "I would like to apologize to everyone who supports Korean soccer and the national team," Hong told reporters in Mexico. "We failed to deliver the results our fans were hoping for, and the responsibility lies entirely with me as head coach." For South Korean soccer, however, the fallout has become almost ritual. The cycle dates back to the 1998 World Cup in France. After the Netherlands beat Korea 5-0 in their second gr…

Hong Myung-bo Hounded by Angry Fans at Airport as South Korea ... - myKhel Protesters greet returning squad with chants, drums and insults after World Cup exit, while businesses reportedly ban outgoing coach South Korea's disastrous FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign has sparked unprecedented public outrage, with outgoing head coach Hong Myung-bo facing angry protests upon his return to Seoul and reports emerging that some local businesses have even banned him from entering their premises. Just days after announcing his resignation following South Korea's shock group-stage elimination, Hong returned to Incheon International Airport in the early hours of Tuesday morning hoping for a quiet arrival. Instead, hundreds of furious supporters were waiting. According to multiple South Korean media outlets, Hong and several players landed shortly after 3 a.m., with airport authorities deploying more than 100 police officers amid fears of unrest. Fans lined the arrival area beating drums, chanting "Hong Myung-bo out!" and hurling insults as the former coach walked silently through the terminal without answering reporters' questions or addressing supporters. While Hong was met with boos, many…