Changing coaches will not save Korean football, youth expert says

Korea's national football team faces mounting criticism following a group-stage exit at the 2026 World Cup in North America.

The squad finished the tournament with one win and two losses, prompting head coach Hong Myung-bo to resign.

The team's poor performance renewed controversy over his 2024 appointment, sparking calls for structural reform.

The crisis has extended to the nation's under-23 team ahead of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in Japan in September.

The U-23 squad finished fourth at the AFC U-23 Asian Cup in January after being eliminated by Vietnam in extra time.

The team also lost 1-0 to Kyrgyzstan in a friendly last month.

Japan presents a stark contrast, as their senior team reached the knockout stage at the World Cup with one win and two draws, including a 4-0 victory over Tunisia and a 2-2 draw with the Netherlands.

While Japan suffered a 2-1 loss to Brazil in the round of 32, its U-23 team beat China 4-0 in the Asian Cup final to secure back-to-back titles.

The victory established Japan as the tournament's most successful country, with championships in 2016, 2024 and 202 ...