"Dark Era of Korean Soccer"... Hong Myung-bo's Team and Football Association Criticized After Draw with 96th-Ranked Team

Palestine Match on the 5th Ends in 0:0 Draw
Fans Hang Banners Criticizing Football Association On Site
"What Has Changed Since Klinsmann?" Anger Expressed

On the 5th, the first match of Group B in the third round of the 2026 CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers between South Korea (ranked 23rd by FIFA) and Palestine (ranked 96th) ended in a 0-0 draw, sparking outrage among football fans who flooded the Korea Football Association's (KFA) social media channels with protests. Despite the heavy deployment of overseas players such as Son Heung-min (Tottenham), Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton), Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich), and Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain) under the management of coach Hong Myung-bo, the team only managed a draw against the relatively weaker Palestine.

On the 5th, the 2026 World Cup Asian third qualifying round match between South Korea and Palestine was held at Seoul World Cup Stadium. Before the match started, Korean spectators were unfolding a banner.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

The KFA's social media post announcing the draw against Palestine received over 3,000 comments within just 20 minutes, most of which criticized the football association. Netizens commented, "Since when did our country play such a close match against a country currently at war?" "Korean football is dead," "What's different from the Klinsmann era?" "Hong Myung-bo, Chung Mong-gyu resign!" "If this happens at home, how do we expect to win against Arab countries away?"

On the afternoon of the 5th, the match between South Korea and Palestine in the third round of the 2026 FIFA North and Central America World Cup qualifiers was held at Seoul World Cup Stadium. After the game ended 0-0, Son Heung-min is applauding the audience.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

The atmosphere at the Seoul World Cup Stadium, where the match was held, was also cold. The national team supporters group, the 'Red Devils,' hung banners criticizing coach Hong Myung-bo, the KFA, and KFA chairman Chung Mong-gyu. In the stands, there were blunt critical phrases such as "The dark age of Korean football," "Pinokihong," "We really hate the KFA," and "Players are first-class, but what about the chairman?" After the national anthems of both teams, the crowd chanted "Chung Mong-gyu out" in rhythm with drumbeats, and boos erupted when Hong Myung-bo was introduced on the scoreboard.

Amid this situation, after the disappointing match ended, Kim Min-jae did not leave the field and expressed his intention to appeal to the fans. With a stern expression, he raised both hands making a gesture to 'please restrain yourselves.' Later, in the mixed zone, he said, "It seems everyone is taking this very seriously, but I wanted to ask for support for the players," adding, "We didn't start off playing badly."

Regarding Kim Min-jae's actions, Son Heung-min said, "Such cases should never happen again. At home, we must not create enemies ourselves," but also appealed, "From the fans' perspective, please think about how you can help us break down the opponent and give us lots of support."

On the afternoon of the 5th, the match between South Korea and Palestine in the third round of the 2026 FIFA CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers was held at Seoul World Cup Stadium. Coach Hong Myung-bo is watching the game.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Earlier, after parting ways with former coach J?rgen Klinsmann, the KFA searched for a new coach for five months before appointing Hong Myung-bo as the national team head coach in July. Regarding this, former national team player Park Joo-ho, who participated as a member of the KFA's Strengthening Committee, revealed that there were problems in the appointment process of coach Hong Myung-bo. Subsequently, 2002 World Cup stars such as Lee Young-pyo, Park Ji-sung, Lee Dong-gook, and Lee Chun-soo also publicly criticized the decision.