Park Ji-sung, Commissioner of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) Stakeholders Committee, said of the Korea men's national soccer team's third group-stage match at the 2026 FIFA North and Central America World Cup, "We need to look back on whether this was really a match we set out to win."
The squad led by coach Hong Myung-bo lost 1-0 to South Africa in the final group match held on the morning of the 25th (Korea time) at Monterrey Stadium in Guadalupe, Mexico, and failed to advance to the round of 32 in the knockout stage on its own.
Park, the Commissioner, who watched the match on site as a JTBC commentator that day, said of the performance, "It wasn't clear how they intended to attack."
Park said, "The same problem showed across all the group-stage matches," adding, "It looked like they were focused on defending while trying to attack, but it wasn't clear how they would get to the goalmouth or what they would do once they got there."
Park, the Commissioner, kept expressing disappointment during the commentary. Park said, "Even though it's a situation where they need to go on the attack (down 1-0), they're keeping the same number of defenders and continuing to play," adding, "Whether you lose 1-0 or 2-0, the standing doesn't change. You have to take a risk."
When Lee Kang-in appeared to struggle because he couldn't find an outlet for the ball, Park noted, "Teammates around him need to help when he has the ball," and criticized, "It looks too much like they're just watching."
Park said, "I don't see team movements that show a determination to create space somehow," adding, "That's the biggest reason the attack isn't smooth."
Kim Hwan, a sports commentator who shared the broadcast with Park, the Commissioner, said, "The tactics themselves were set far too deep. It seems they were thinking too much that 'a draw is fine,'" adding, "I feel like this might be the worst match ever."