Republic of Korea Overview

Four nations made debuts at the 2026 World Cup, with Cape Verde, Curacao, Jordan and Uzbekistan gracing the grandest stage in international football for the first time. It was the tournament with the most newcomers since 2006 and Cape Verde achieved the feat of ending a 16-year wait for a debutant to reach the knockout stages, before succumbing to Lionel Messi's Argentina in a classic.

South Korea head coach Hong Myung-bo has stepped down from his position following the nation's disappointing group-stage exit from the 2026 World Cup. The decision comes amid growing political pressure as the country's president, Lee Jae Myung, has officially called for a formal inquiry into the team's failing performances in North America.