Son Heung-min has issued a heartfelt apology to South Korean fans after the national team was eliminated from the 2026 World Cup in the group stage. The captain took to Instagram on Tuesday to express his pain and ask for support rather than criticism.

What Happened to South Korea?

South Korea started the tournament on a positive note, winning their opening match in Mexico. However, things quickly fell apart. They lost their second game and then faced South Africa in a decisive final group match.

A draw would have been enough to send South Korea through. Instead, they lost 1-0 to South Africa and finished third in Group A. They ended up outside the eight best third-placed teams, meaning their World Cup was over.

Son’s Emotional Message

In a lengthy Instagram post, the 33-year-old did not hold back his feelings.

“I don’t know where to begin,” Son wrote. “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.”

He described the tournament as “more important to me than anyone else” and said the “child’s dream” he always talked about had collapsed.

“I’m indescribably hurt. It’s still not easy to accept this reality,” he added.

Son also asked fans to show encouragement rather than criticism to the players. “I beg you to send warm support and encouragement rather than criticising and hurting all the players,” he wrote.

A Difficult Tournament for Son Personally

The World Cup was a tough one for Son on the pitch as well. The former Tottenham Hotspur forward, who joined MLS side LAFC last August, was dropped from the starting line-up for the crucial match against South Africa.

He came on at half-time but could not find the back of the net. Son finishes the 2026 World Cup without a goal, despite being South Korea’s joint top World Cup scorer with three goals — tied with Park Ji-sung and Ahn Jung-hwan.

The Fallout in South Korea

The elimination has caused major shockwaves back home. Head coach Hong Myung-bo resigned on Sunday, taking responsibility for the early exit.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has even called for an investigation into the team’s performance, highlighting just how seriously the country takes its football.

Son is the record appearance holder for the men’s national team with 147 caps. He has now played in four World Cups, but South Korea have only reached the knockout stage once during that time — losing 4-1 to Brazil in the round of 16 in 2022.

What to Watch

Son Heung-min’s future with the national team remains uncertain. At 33, this may have been his final World Cup appearance. His emotional message suggests he still wants to represent South Korea, but the team is heading into a period of major change with a new coach needed and questions about the squad’s direction.

For now, Son says he will “run to death” to win back the hearts of Korean football fans. Whether he gets the chance remains to be seen.