President Lee Jae-myung delivered a message of encouragement to the national football team, which returned home after completing all its matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North and Central America.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, on Monday, Lee wrote, "I extend my deepest sympathy to the members of the South Korean national football team, whose hearts must be heavier than anyone's." He added, "Captain Son Heung-min and our entire national football team, you have worked incredibly hard."
He continued, "You did not give up until the last moment, and you poured everything you had onto the pitch to bring hope and pride to the people." Lee stressed, "Regardless of the match results, you are more than deserving of pride as South Korea's national representatives."
Lee also delivered a message that the government would lend its strength so that Korean football could make a greater leap by learning from the failures of this World Cup. "So that this deeply painful tournament does not remain merely as a setback, but instead becomes the foundation for a bigger leap forward for South Korean football, the government too will do everything it can," he pledged.
When the national team's elimination from the group stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North and Central America was confirmed on the 28th of last month, Lee had said, "The unexpected result leaves me feeling not just bewildered but astonished," adding, "I will swiftly push forward reform of sports administration."
In that post at the time, Lee said, "This failure to advance in the World Cup, which has left the people feeling deflated, appears to have been caused by failures in organization and personnel." He said, "If incompetent people are selected as commanders because sides are valued more than ability, the outcome is as clear as day." The remarks were interpreted as targeting the appointment of head coach Hong Myung-bo.
However, in the post he made on this day, Lee did not include any separate remarks about the Korea Football Association or the national team's coaching staff.
