On June 28, Choi expressed his disappointment on social media, stating, "The goal of reaching the Round of 32 has been thwarted. I watched in silence, but the result is a group stage exit. It is incredibly disappointing. I feel so frustrated that I just stared blankly at the sky."
Under the leadership of coach Hong Myung-bo, the South Korean team finished third in Group A with a record of one win and two losses (3 points, goal difference -1), failing to qualify for the knockout stage.
In this expanded tournament featuring 48 teams, the top eight third-placed teams advance to the Round of 32, but South Korea fell short, finishing outside the crucial eighth position.
This marks the first time since the 2018 Russia World Cup that South Korea has failed to advance past the group stage, resulting in a total of nine group stage exits in World Cup history (1954 Switzerland, 1986 Mexico, 1990 Italy, 1994 United States, 1998 France, 2006 Germany, 2014 Brazil, 2018 Russia).
South Korea's final ranking in the tournament is confirmed at 34th, the lowest in the nation's World Cup history.
Choi stated, "It is time to analyze where things began to go wrong and what has been holding us back. We need to consolidate the numerous discussions we've had and create fundamental alternatives."
He added, "Until the day the hearts of our citizens come together again, the government will do everything it can. South Korean football may have fallen, but we will surely rise again."
The national team, having faced the disappointment of group stage elimination, will return to South Korea via Incheon International Airport on June 30.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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