Ki Sung-yueng "Footballers must reflect" on the disaster of World Cup elimination

Former national team captain Ki Sung-yueng expressed his feelings after witnessing the shocking group stage elimination in the 2026 FIFA World Cup North America. Through a preview video of the recently released tvN entertainment program 'You Quiz on the Block', he delivered bitter words calling for an awakening of football professionals and highlighting the crisis facing Korean football.

The atmosphere on the ground was starkly divided between early hope and late despair. Ki Sung-yueng, who watched the matches directly in Mexico, recalled that the atmosphere was good enough to contend for 1st or 2nd place in the group during the comeback victory against the Czech Republic in the first match. However, the subsequent 0-1 loss to Mexico and the following 0-1 loss to South Africa drove Korean football to the worst possible result.

Records from the Mexico site where hope turned to despair

Ki Sung-yueng witnessed the flow of the 2026 North America World Cup firsthand. He watched the Czech Republic match, the first game of the Korean national team, on-site in Mexico. At that time, Korea started the tournament on a high note by achieving a 2-1 comeback victory against the Czech Republic. Ki Sung-yueng conveyed the positive sentiment of that time, saying, "The result of the first match was so good," and "Until I returned to Korea, the atmosphere was so good that people were discussing whether we would finish 1st or 2nd in the group."

However, the atmosphere cooled down rapidly. Korea knelt 0-1 against Mexico, and in the following third match, they lost 0-1 to South Africa, which was ranked 60th in the FIFA rankings at the time. Failing to even secure a draw against South Africa, who were classified as the weakest team, Korea fell to 3rd in the group and was ultimately eliminated, failing to reach the Round of 32 and even failing to be among the top 8 third-placed teams. They ended up receiving a disastrous report card with a final ranking of 34th, the lowest in history.

"I fully understand the public's disappointment" The captain's heavy sense of responsibility

Having returned after providing strength to the players on-site, Ki Sung-yueng expressed deep regret over the result. He said, "I went to give a lot of strength to the players, so as a player who has experienced this, it is very regrettable that it ended this way." In particular, he also spoke about the reactions of football fans expressing anger and disappointment due to the results of this tournament. Ki Sung-yueng bowed his head, saying, "I fully understand why the people are disappointed."

Beyond simple regret, he asked himself strict questions. As a former national team captain, his sense of responsibility for this disaster was also heavy. He confessed, "I am also a football professional, but lately, I have many thoughts about whether I have truly done something diligently for Korean football." This statement contains self-reproach and reflection felt as a member of Korean football, going beyond simple criticism.

Collapsed leadership and the beginning of chaos in Korean football

This World Cup disaster caused even greater repercussions as it coincided with the total dysfunction of Korean football administration. While controversies over preferential treatment in the manager appointment process and the lack of tactics had persisted even before the tournament, Manager Hong Myung-bo finally stepped down once the group stage elimination was confirmed. Additionally, Chung Mong-gyu, the president of the Korea Football Association, also announced his resignation, plunging Korean football into an unprecedented period of chaos.

Currently, the Korean football community is being called upon to undergo bone-cutting changes. With the launch of the 'K-Football Innovation Committee' centered around Park Ji-sung and Lee Young-pyo, movements for structural improvements, such as the presidential election method, have begun. However, as Ki Sung-yueng emphasized, if the existing powers within the football community refuse to change, it remains uncertain whether such innovation will lead to substantial reform. Ki Sung-yueng repeatedly emphasized, "I hope that Korean football will undergo a lot of reform in the future," and "Football professionals must truly reflect and awaken."

Unending structural challenges and remaining tasks

This situation is spreading into voices calling for a re-examination of the Korean football system itself, beyond just the failure of match results. Throughout the tournament, failures in utilizing key players and tactical deficiencies were pointed out, which eventually led to the resignation of the leadership. While various improvement plans are pouring out to fill the void left by the association president and the manager, concerns are also being raised that the momentum for reform may weaken as the voices of vested interests, such as regional football associations, remain strong.

Based on the sense of responsibility he felt while cheering for the players in Mexico, Ki Sung-yueng urged fundamental changes in Korean football. Leaving the words "Football professionals must truly reflect a lot," he expressed his hope that this World Cup disaster would serve as a painful lesson for Korean football to leap forward to the next level.

“Football professionals must truly reflect” Ki Sung-yueng's painful self-reflection

Watching this World Cup disaster, Ki Sung-yueng demanded fundamental changes in the Korean football community. He directly mentioned the need for change, saying, "I hope that Korean football will undergo a lot of reform in the future."

Sharp criticism toward the inside of the football community also followed. Saying, "Football professionals must truly reflect," he asked himself strict questions. He added, "I am also a football professional, but lately, I have many thoughts about whether I have truly done something diligently for Korean football."