Closing Group A with 3 points and a goal difference of -1, coach Hong Myung-bo's team once temporarily topped the group of third-placed teams. However, when the remaining groups ended one after another, the position of the kimchi team was continuously pushed down because many opponents won 4 points or had the same 3 points but possessed superior goal difference.
In Group B, Bosnia & Herzegovina defeated Qatar 3-1 to finish the group stage with 4 points. Paraguay drew with Australia in Group D, while Ecuador surprised by overcoming Germany in Group E to have 4 points each. Sweden drew with Japan in Group F and also reached the milestone of 4 points. Meanwhile, Senegal heavily defeated Iraq 5-0 to have 3 points but a goal difference of +2, far exceeding South Korea's -1.
By dawn on June 28, after Ghana and Congo both finished the group stage with 4 points, South Korea was officially pushed out of the group of 8 third-placed teams with the best results, thereby saying goodbye to the 2026 World Cup right after the group stage.
This is the second time in the last three World Cups that the East Asian team has failed to get through the group stage. Previously, South Korea was eliminated from the group stage in 2018, reached the round of 16 in 2022 and continued to stop early at this year's tournament.
This disappointing result reflects South Korea's unstable performance in the group stage. Coach Hong Myung-bo's team lost to Mexico and South Africa with the same score of 0-1, before unable to improve their position in the rankings of third-placed teams.
The early stop at the 2026 World Cup is considered a shock to Korean football, and also raises many requirements for the process of reform and preparation for major goals in the next stage.
