Son Heung-min apologises for South Korea's World Cup exit

South Korea captain Son Heung-min has issued a heartfelt apology following his team's early exit from the 2026 World Cup. The side finished third in Group A after winning their opener but failing to secure the necessary results in their final two matches, including a 1-0 defeat to South Africa.

The 33-year-old forward, who joined MLS side LAFC last August, was omitted from the starting line-up for the final group game. Although he came on as a substitute, he could not prevent the loss. The aftermath has seen head coach Hong Myung-bo resign and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung call for an official investigation into the team's performance.

I don't know where to begin. I can't pretend nothing happened, and I don't want to escape reality. First of all, I would like to say sorry to all the Korean people and to the fans who love football. Son Heung-min

Son, the record appearance holder for the men's team, described the collapse of his World Cup dreams as indescribably painful. He expressed deep responsibility for the result and asked the public to offer encouragement to his teammates rather than criticism.

Looking ahead, the forward promised to work tirelessly to regain the trust of the nation. He emphasized his commitment to the team, stating that he would "run to death" to bring joy back to the fans in future campaigns.