South Korea’s national football team endured a disappointing 0-1 defeat to South Africa in their final Group A match at the FIFA World Cup in North America, drawing strong criticism from international media over what many described as one of the team’s poorest performances in recent years.
The loss, played at Monterrey Stadium in Mexico, left South Korea with one win and two defeats in the group stage. However, thanks to Czech Republic losing to Mexico, South Korea finished third in Group A and still has a strong chance of reaching the Round of 32 as one of the tournament’s best third-placed teams.
Sports outlet The Athletic criticized head coach Hong Myung-bo for leaving star captain Son Heung-min out of the starting lineup, calling the decision “shocking.” The publication noted that South Korea appeared stronger on paper, boasting several players from top European leagues, while only a handful of South African players compete outside their domestic league.
Despite the defeat, The Athletic reported that its prediction model gives South Korea an 89% chance of advancing to the knockout stage as a third-place qualifier. If they progress, they are expected to face Egypt in Seattle.
Meanwhile, The Guardian criticized South Korea’s lack of creativity and attacking threat throughout the match. Although the team controlled possession for long periods, it struggled to create meaningful scoring opportunities. The publication described South Korea’s crossing accuracy as poor and said the team looked unlikely to score.
The BBC highlighted the historic nature of the victory for South Africa, noting that Thapelo Maseko’s second-half goal secured the country’s first-ever qualification for the World Cup knockout stage. The broadcaster also pointed out that South Korea’s vibrant attacking football seen earlier in the tournament had disappeared, replaced by a sluggish and ineffective display.
Son Heung-min entered the game as a substitute at halftime but was unable to change the outcome, reportedly managing only one touch inside South Africa’s penalty area.
While the performance has raised concerns among fans and analysts, South Korea’s World Cup journey may not yet be over, with qualification for the Round of 32 still likely depending on results from other groups.
