South Korea World Cup 2026: Squad, Matches and Results

Eliminated in the group stage

Finished 3rd in Group A

South Korea are one of Asia's most familiar World Cup sides, and this was their 12th time at the tournament.

They started Group A with a win, then finished 3rd, and in the end they just missed out on a best 3rd-place spot.

It was painfully tight, with two games lost by a single goal, and now they are out.

South Korea's 2026 World Cup matches

Manager: Hong Myung-bo

South Korea are out, and they could hardly have come closer to staying in.

It started so brightly, with a 2-1 comeback win over the Czech Republic that got the whole country dreaming.

Then came two of the tightest games you will see at a World Cup.

First they lost 0-1 to co-host Mexico, beaten by a single goal in a tense, even match.

Then, on the final day, they lost 0-1 to South Africa, the exact game that decided 2nd place in the group.

So one win and two 1-0 defeats left them 3rd on 3 points, and they had to wait on the other groups.

When the last groups finished, 8 other 3rd-place teams had more points, so South Korea fell just short of the cut.

The big story was Son Heung-min, very likely playing his last World Cup, now with LAFC in Los Angeles.

He had already handed the armband to Kim Min-jae of Bayern Munich, with Lee Kang-in of Paris Saint-Germain adding class in midfield.

The mood is heartbreak, because two 1-0 defeats are the thinnest margin there is, but they go home with their heads high.

Last 12 months before the tournament. Source: international match records.

South Korea were in Group A with Mexico, South Africa and Czech Republic. They finished 3rd in the group.

South Korea are managed by Hong Myung-bo.

South Korea's best World Cup result is 4th place in 2002.

No, South Korea were knocked out in the group stage, finishing 3rd in Group A.

South Korea are ranked 32 in the FIFA world rankings.