On June 28, South Korea's national team was officially eliminated from FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifying. According to multiple South Korean media reports, the team will depart for home on June 30. Following the tournament, the team will not hold a disbandment ceremony or official airport welcome reception, choosing instead to return quietly.

According to South Korean media reports on June 28, citing the Korea Football Association, the national team, coached by Hong Myung-bo, will return home through Incheon International Airport on the morning of June 30. The Korea Football Association has decided not to arrange an official welcome ceremony or celebration, marking the first time since the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Korea and Japan that South Korea has cancelled an official airport welcome following an overseas FIFA World Cup campaign.

In the past, even with disappointing results, South Korea would still hold at least a minimal welcome ceremony upon returning home. At the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, the team was also eliminated in the group stage with one draw and two losses, yet the welcome ceremony was held as planned. At that time, some fans even threw tteok (rice cakes) at coach Hong Myung-bo at the airport as a gesture of anger, causing controversy.

This time, after elimination, Hong Myung-bo held a press conference in Guadalajara, Mexico, on June 29 (at which he announced his resignation), then departed directly for home.

At this FIFA World Cup, South Korea's team, led by Hong Myung-bo, achieved 1 win and 2 losses, accumulating 3 points in Group A and finishing third in the group. In the subsequent competition among third-place teams from each group to advance, they failed to qualify for the round of 32 and were eliminated. Although theoretically there were nine possible scenarios for advancement, only one situation eventually materialized, and the team unfortunately fell short.

This tournament was the first FIFA World Cup expanded from 32 to 48 teams, but South Korea ultimately ranked 34th, which under the old system would have meant missing the tournament altogether. This also marks the first time in 8 years, since the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, that South Korea has failed to advance from the group stage.

Only 8 members, including head coach Hong Myung-bo and players such as goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo (Ulsan Hyundai), Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich), Hwang In-beom (Feyenoord), and Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton), will be on the main flight returning home. Captain Son Heung-min (LAFC) and other players will return home gradually according to their respective club arrangements, with their return expected to be completed by July 1.

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