South Korea Ends World Cup Journey After Third-Place Group Stage Finish

South Korea’s 2026 North America World Cup campaign ended after a third-place finish in Group A failed to secure a wildcard spot. The Korea Football Association announced on the 28th (Korean time) that players would return home in small groups starting that day due to flight issues. Led by head coach Hong Myung-bo, South Korea finished third with 1 win and 2 losses for 3 points, following a 2-1 victory over the Czech Republic before defeats to Mexico (0-1) and South Africa (0-1). Because only the top two in each group earn direct entry to the Round of 32, South Korea needed one of the wildcard places. The team held training at the Chivas Verde Valle facility in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, on the 28th while waiting for scenarios. The wildcard race eliminated South Korea after other results: Paraguay, Ecuador and Sweden each finished with 4 points, while Senegal’s 5-0 win over Iraq moved South Korea down to seventh among third-place teams. Spain’s 1-0 win over Uruguay ensured Uruguay progressed, and later results including Croatia’s 2-1 win over Ghana and the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s 3-1 over Uzbekistan left South Korea 9th among third-place teams.