![[CAPTIONS]
After losing to South Africa in their third Group A match of the 2026 North and Central America World Cup and awaiting results from other groups to advance to the round of 32, the South Korean national football team returned to their team base camp in Guadalajara, Mexico, on the 25th (local time) and held a recovery training session at Chivas Valle Verde in Zapopan. Head coach Hong Myung-bo listens to a reporter's question at a press conference held ahead of the training. Yonhap News - Seoul Economic Daily Sports News from South Korea](https://wimg.sedaily.com/news/cms/2026/06/26/news-p.v1.20260626.121ac2175e0a40a896df502a6f5614dc_P1.jpg "Korea's Shock Loss to South Africa Sparks \"Deliberate Defeat\" Suspicions in Japan")
Following the South Korean national football team's shock loss to South Africa, suspicions have emerged among Japanese fans that Korea may have lost on purpose to secure a more favorable tournament bracket. Korea currently sits sixth in the race among third-place teams from each group.
"Avoiding Brazil and France on Purpose?"...Japanese Fans Scoff
According to a report by Japanese outlet Soccer Digest on Tuesday, reactions questioning whether the defeat was "intentional" erupted among Japanese fans immediately after Korea's 0-1 loss to South Africa.
Based on the BBC's projected tournament bracket, Korea's Round of 32 opponent is currently predicted to be Egypt, the leader of Group G. The outlet noted that "Egypt is ranked 26th in the FIFA rankings, two places higher than Korea, but compared to Brazil, Morocco, and France, whom Japan could potentially face in the Round of 32, it is an easier opponent."
In the comments, Japanese fans flooded the discussion with reactions such as "The difference in difficulty is too great," "It's unfair," "We're up against either Brazil, Morocco, or France," and "Did they lose on purpose?"
Egyptian football commentator Fathi Sand also wrote on his social media account, "Do you think Korea deliberately lost to South Africa to avoid a matchup with host nation Canada and instead face Egypt, which advances to the Round of 32 as group leader? Or is it just a coincidence?"
Third-Place Race Also in Trouble...Three Teams Already Secured Spots
Meanwhile, Korea could have advanced directly to the Round of 32 as group runner-up with just a draw against South Africa, but the loss dropped them to third in their group, ending their chances of reaching the knockout stage on their own.
Korea's position in the competition among third-place teams from each group is also narrowing. Ecuador pulled off an upset by defeating Germany 2-1 in their final Group E match, securing a Round of 32 ticket with one win, one draw, and one loss (four points). Sweden also drew 1-1 with Japan in their final Group F match on Tuesday, securing tournament advancement as a third-place qualifier.
Bosnia and Herzegovina (one win, one draw, one loss; four points) in Group B has also already booked a Round of 32 spot as group runner-up, while Paraguay, which drew with Australia, clinched third place in Group D with four points, moving ahead of Korea.
For Korea, which needed Germany to win to be in a favorable position, Ecuador's upset was an unwelcome result. Among the 12 third-place teams from each group, Korea currently sits sixth. With four teams already having secured spots, the remaining competition is expected to be even fiercer. The structure means that the more teams finishing third in their group post better records than Korea, the lower Korea's chances of advancing to the Round of 32 become.
Round of 32? Let's Just Trust in Spain, Egypt, and Senegal
