Son Heung‑min bows out after group‑stage exit at 2026 World Cup

**Son Heung‑min** saw his fourth FIFA World Cup end in disappointment on 27 June 2026 when South Korea fell 1‑0 to South Africa, sealing a third‑place finish in Group A and eliminating the Taegeuk Warriors from the tournament.

South Korea opened the group with a 2‑1 win over Czechia on 11 June, but Son was withdrawn in the 69th minute after six attempts, only one on target. A week later, against Mexico, Hong Myung‑bo swapped Son for Oh Hyeon‑gyu at 57 minutes. The final match on 27 June saw Son start on the bench; he entered at halftime but could not overturn the 1‑0 deficit to South Africa, a result that confirmed the team’s exit.

Coach Hong explained that a fresh version of Son was needed against a tired South African defence, prompting the late substitution. The decision reflected growing doubts about Son’s form; he had failed to score in 13 MLS games for LAFC before the tournament, despite a prolific 12‑goal spell in all competitions the previous season. Even a brace in a 5‑0 friendly win over Trinidad and Tobago in May did not translate to World Cup goals.

Despite the early exit, Son remains tied for South Korea’s all‑time World Cup goal record with three goals, alongside Ahn Jung‑hwan and Park Ji‑sung. He also shares the record for most World Cup appearances by a Korean player-four tournaments-with three former teammates, including Hong. The 2026 tournament could have been his last chance to claim sole ownership of either milestone.

In a pre‑Czechia press conference, Son insisted he never declared the tournament his final World Cup, emphasizing his focus on doing his job. He left the door open for another campaign, though age and recent form make a fifth appearance uncertain. The national team will now look to younger talent to fill the void, while Son continues to lead Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League and LAFC in MLS, where he hopes to rediscover his scoring touch.

The group stage yielded three points from one win and two losses. Earlier World Cups saw similar patterns: a group‑stage exit in 2014, a dramatic upset over Germany in 2018 that still wasn’t enough, and a round‑of‑16 berth in 2022 thanks to an assist from Son to Hwang Hee‑chan. The 2026 result mirrors the 2014 disappointment, underscoring a recurring struggle to convert strong individual moments into tournament progress.