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South Korean national football team captain Heung-min Son (center), along with teammates Ji-sung Eom and Seung-gyu Kim, arrive at Incheon International Airport Terminal 2 following the conclusion of the 2026 FIFA World Cup / Yonhap News

The South Korean national football team players, who fell short of reaching the Round of 32 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, returned home to the warm support of their fans. Captain Heung-min Son (LAFC), alongside several national team members, arrived at Incheon International Airport on the morning of the 1st, drawing a curtain on their disappointing World Cup journey.

The group returning today included Heung-min Son, Jae-sung Lee (Mainz), Seung-gyu Kim (Tokyo), Bum-keun Song (Jeonbuk), Ji-sung Eom (Swansea), Dong-gyeong Lee (Ulsan), Jin-gyu Kim (Jeonbuk), Han-beom Lee (Midtjylland), Tae-seok Lee (Vienna), Gi-hyeok Lee (Gangwon), Jun-ho Bae (Stoke), Wee-je Cho, and Sang-yoon Kang (Jeonbuk). A day prior, former head coach Myung-bo Hong arrived ahead of the group alongside eight players, including Kang-in Lee (Paris Saint-Germain), Min-jae Kim (Bayern Munich), and In-beom Hwang (Feyenoord).

Despite the early hour, fans gathered at the airport to show their solidarity. While the team's flight was scheduled to touch down around 4 a.m., dedicated supporters began lining up near the arrivals gate as early as 2 a.m. By the time the aircraft landed, a crowd of around 50 fans and onlookers filled the area.

Heung-min Son, Ji-sung Eom, Seung-gyu Kim, and Bum-keun Song were the first to emerge, with the remaining players exiting the arrival gate in 20-minute intervals. The moment Son appeared, the crowd erupted into warm applause, chanting, "You did great," "Stay strong," and "Keep your head up." When pressed by reporters for his thoughts on the disappointing outcome, Son briefly replied, "I'm sorry," before making his way through the terminal.

The atmosphere at the airport stood in stark contrast to the previous day. While a crowd of over 300 fans had gathered to loudly jeer Coach Myung-bo Hong and his contingent upon their arrival, today's arriving players were met with comfort and encouragement. Wearing their favorite players' jerseys, fans held up banners with messages such as "Stay strong, Jae-sung" and "Heung-min Son forever."

The national team had set out to secure consecutive knockout stage appearances following their Round of 16 run at the 2022 Qatar tournament but ultimately fell short. Finishing third in Group A with a 1-2 record (3 points), South Korea ranked 10th among the 12 third-place teams fighting for a wildcard spot. In this expanded 48-team tournament, South Korea concluded its campaign in 34th place overall, marking the lowest placement in the country's World Cup history.

                                                                                                        Cheon Hyeon-bin