The South Korean national soccer team’s elimination from the group stage of the 2026 North American World Cup has left celebrities like Lee Kyung-kyu, Kim Hee-chul, Han Jung-soo, and Kim Soo-ro expressing their profound disappointment and frustration.

Under coach Hong Myung-bo’s leadership, South Korea finished third in Group A with a 1-2 record. The team’s fate was sealed on the morning of the 28th when the Democratic Republic of Congo defeated Uzbekistan 3-1 in the final Group K match, knocking South Korea out of contention for a spot in the Round of 32.

Reacting to the shocking elimination, Lee Kyung-kyu didn’t mince words during his live broadcast on the 28th. “This World Cup has been a disaster,” he fumed. “I’ve been following the World Cup since 1994, and this year is by far the worst. They made such a fuss about Son Heung-min and then benched him. It’s absurd.”

Kim Hee-chul, a member of K-pop group Super Junior, took to social media to express his dismay. Posting a photo of himself watching the match in bed, he wrote, “I heard this could be Son Heung-min’s last World Cup. I was hoping to see at least one more game, but is it really over?” He added, “They’re saying it’s because of one person’s mistake… Sigh. The players really gave it their all,” in what seemed to be a thinly veiled critique of coach Hong Myung-bo’s tactics and decisions.

Actor Han Jung-soo didn’t hold back in his criticism of the Korea Football Association and the coach. He posted on his social media, “The real culprit is the one who saw this coming and jumped ship first.” When pressed about who he meant, Han directly named “the president and the Korea Football Association.” He had previously lambasted coach Hong after the loss to South Africa, calling him “the worst coach ever.”

Actor Kim Soo-ro, meanwhile, shared a more emotional response. He wrote on social media, “Son Heung-min, please make it to the next World Cup. This time, it was the fans who suffered. Let’s stay strong. But why am I tearing up?” His post reflected the nation’s affection for star player Son Heung-min and the collective disappointment over the team’s performance.

This elimination marks a significant setback for South Korean soccer, which had aimed for its third overall and second consecutive advancement to the knockout stage following successful runs in the 2010 South Africa and 2022 Qatar World Cups. The early exit has left fans and players alike grappling with a profound sense of disappointment.