Legacy on the line: Hong faces defining moment as coach

Korea head coach Hong Myung-bo gives instructions to his players during their Group A match against Mexico at the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Guadalajara Stadium in Zapopan, Mexico, Thursday (local time). Yonhap

It was always likely that Hong Myung-bo’s coaching legacy would be defined by this World Cup. At the moment, it very much hangs in the balance.

It does not take much imagination to know what the headlines will be if Korea falls at the first hurdle and heads home early. But if the Taeguk Warriors, who beat Czech Republic 2-1 before losing 1-0 to Mexico, defeat South Africa to take six points from the group, which would be its best showing since 2002, all may be well.

Younger fans may not appreciate the stature that Hong had as a player in Korea and Asia. He was one of the stars of the 2002 World Cup, captaining the team to the semifinals and scoring the winning goal in the penalty shoot-out against Spain in the quarterfinals. His image then was of a strong, charismatic leader appearing at his fourth World Cup.

That image has taken a hit, and some of the reverence has gone — such is the life as a coach, who naturally takes the blame when results are not great. In the early days of his coaching career, Hong looked like he could become the first Asian to have a global impact, perhaps even working in the big leagues of Europe. In 2009, he took the U-20 national team to the quarterfinal of the World Cup. At the 2012 Olympics, he delivered a historic success with a bronze medal with a win over Japan.

It was no surprise that he took coaching for the national team in 2013, a year out from the 2014 World Cup. The team did not perform as well as hoped in Brazil, with Korea failing to advance out of the group stage. It seemed as if a promising coaching career was over.

After a spell in China, he worked in the Korea FA before taking his first K-League job and winning back-to-back titles in 2022 and 2023 with Ulsan HD. In 2024, the Korean Football Association was looking for a new coach. Hong said he wouldn’t take the job — but then he did. Ulsan fans and others in the K-League were unhappy and his second spell in charge started under a cloud.

While qualification was smooth if not impressive, there is still not much sense of a "Hong style." Even in the lead-up to the competition, there was doubt as to whether he would play with a three- or four-man backline and whether he saw captain Son Heung-min best as a central attacker or coming in from the left.

So far, he has gone for the first option in both, although the general opinion is in favor of a four-man defense and Son on the wings. As always, results will determine his final reputation.

The first game against the Czech Republic was good, but the second against Mexico much less so. It’s time for a big performance to really change the narrative. This could be the last chance for Hong to show what he is all about. As a player, his last World Cup ended in glory. As a coach, it depends on what happens against South Africa.