World Cup 2026: South Korea President Demands Investigation After National Team’s Group Stage Exit

South Korea president, Lee Jae Myung, has officially called for a formal inquiry into the team’s failing performances at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The team had hoped they could still go through to the round of 32 as one of the best third-placed teams, but that hope was quashed on Saturday.

The early exit has prompted widespread criticism at home, with President Lee Jae-myung calling for an investigation into reasons behind the team’s disappointing performance.

Ranked 32nd in FIFA’s men’s rankings and led by star player Son Heung-min, South Korea recorded two losses and one win at the World Cup, finishing behind Mexico and South Africa, who are ranked 15th and 60th respectively.

In a lengthy statement issued on X, the president said: “I am not just taken aback by this unexpected outcome – I am utterly baffled.

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“Once again, it has ​been proven that personnel decisions are everything.

“When ‘us versus them’ ⁠is prioritised over competence, and an incompetent person is selected as a ​leader, the outcome is as clear as day.

“The reason such botched appointments – which fail to distinguish between public ‌and ⁠private interests, and prioritise personal gain over the public good – are possible is that it is impossible or difficult to monitor, check, and hold those with appointment authority accountable.

“The failure to qualify, which has left the public feeling disheartened, appears to be the result of organisational and personnel failures.

“Given that significant national taxpayer funds and state support resources are invested even in World Cup participation, I ask that the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism thoroughly investigate the precise circumstances of this incident, analyse its causes, and develop thorough measures for preventing recurrence and improvement.

“We will swiftly push forward with reforms to sports administration to ensure such a thing never happens again.”

South Korea, who went unbeaten during World Cup qualification, have flattered to deceive on the global stage of late.

They have been dumped out in the group stage in three of the last four editions.

And they have failed to go beyond the last-16 since finishing in fourth spot 24 years ago.