After South Korea's national soccer team suffered a defeat to South Africa in the 2026 North America World Cup, Seol Young-woo shared his thoughts on the match.
On June 25, South Korean time, Seol spoke with reporters in the mixed zone following the game, acknowledging, "It is true that all the players are down. However, it’s not over yet, so let’s prepare with the mindset of playing the next match." He added, "I will recover both mentally and physically and wait for the next opportunity."
Seol reflected on the loss, stating, "We lost because we didn’t perform well. If we had not conceded any goals, we could have advanced with just a draw, and I feel a sense of responsibility for that."
When asked if the heat was a factor, he responded, "It wasn’t just us who were hot; the opponent faced the same conditions, so that can’t be an excuse."
He expressed regret over the outcome, saying, "I believe all players wanted to secure points and advance comfortably. The results didn’t follow, and I feel sorry for the many fans who supported us but didn’t see a good result."
Meanwhile, under the guidance of head coach Hong Myung-bo, South Korea faced a shocking 1-0 defeat against South Africa in their third group stage match at the Monterrey Stadium in Guadalupe, Mexico.
Seol played the entire match as a right wing-back but was unable to prevent the team’s loss.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.