Korea's World Cup ends at group stage after other results fail to break Warriors' way
After initial optimism that the national team could advance to the knockout stage as one of the best third-placed sides, ensuing results in other groups dimmed that hope until it was extinguished on Saturday.
Hong Myung-bo, the manager of Korea, watches a Group A match against South Africa at the FIFA World Cup 2026 at Monterrey Stadium in Mexico on June 24.KANG JUNG-HYUN
The last shreds of Korea's hope to reach the knockout stage of the FIFA World Cup 2026 were dashed after the Democratic Republic of the Congo defeated Uzbekistan, sending the Taeguk Warriors packing.
Congo came from behind to beat Uzbekistan 3-1 in their final Group K match at Atlanta Stadium in the United States on Saturday.
The victory lifted the Central African nation to third place in the group with one win, one draw and one loss, securing one of the tournament's Round of 32 berths reserved for the eight best third-place finishers.
Uzbekistan took the lead in the 10th minute through striker Eldor Shomurodov, who calmly chipped the ball over goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi after spotting the keeper off his line. Congo thought they had equalized seven minutes later when Nathanaël Mbuku scored, but the goal was ruled out after a VAR review found a foul in the buildup.
Congo leveled in the 68th minute after Yoane Wissa won a penalty when he was fouled by Abdukodir Khusanov, which he converted himself. The comeback was completed in the 78th minute when Fiston Mayele scored the go-ahead goal. Wissa added another in stoppage time to seal the victory.
With the World Cup expanded to 48 teams, the top eight of the 12 third-place teams advance to the round of 32. The rankings are determined by points, goal difference, goals scored and fair play points.
Korea's Lee Kang-in reacts after a 1-0 loss to South Africa in their final Group A match at the FIFA World Cup 2026 at Monterrey Stadium in Mexico on June 24.KANG JUNG-HYUN
Korea, who finished third in Group A with one win and two losses, three points and a goal difference of minus one, were eighth among the nine third-place teams that had already completed their matches before the teams in Groups J, K and L played their final group fixtures.
With Group L's Ghana already ahead of Korea on four points coming into their final group match, the Warriors needed to finish ahead of the third-place teams in Groups J and K to advance, but a Congo win would put the Central African side on four points, sending Korea home even before the group stage finished.
The Warriors' hopes of advancing, therefore, depended on Uzbekistan, and until the 68th minute, that scenario appeared possible before slipping away in spectacular fashion.
Korea opened the tournament with a 2-1 victory over the Czech Republic, but consecutive defeats to Mexico and South Africa left the side's fate in the hands of other teams. Advancing as one of the best third-place teams remained a realistic possibility after the final whistle in Monterrey Stadium in Mexico sent South Africa into raptures on Wednesday, but each passing matchday delivered a new blow as the Warriors slipped down the third-place rankings until the book on a disappointing campaign was slammed shut.
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
