Has South Korean football fallen further behind Japan?

The disappointment following the defeat against South Africa is plunging South Korean football into its biggest debate in years: have they truly been left behind by Japan?

On the morning of June 25th, the South Korean team disappointed by losing 0-1 to South Africa in their final Group A match of the 2026 World Cup. From being a contender for the top spot, the team from the land of kimchi dropped to third place. They must wait for the other groups to conclude to have any hope of advancing as one of the eight best third-placed teams.

South Korean fans were plunged into disappointment after the loss to South Africa on the morning of June 25. Photo: Reuters .

Following the match, a wave of criticism erupted on South Korean football forums. The attacks weren't limited to coach Hong Myung-bo or the team's performance; many questioned the true standing of South Korean football in Asia.

"Compared to Japan right now, it's embarrassing."

Renowned commentator Park Jong-yoon, co-founder of South Korea's leading football channel Is-ta TV, drew attention with his blunt statement: "Comparing ourselves to Japan now is truly embarrassing."

This statement quickly spread on South Korean social media, especially in the context of a post that appeared before the match titled "Asia's Number One Team" but used an image of the Japanese team instead of South Korea.

Following their defeat against South Africa, many fans felt that this assessment accurately reflected the reality. Numerous comments suggested that South Korea not only lost to Japan at the senior national team level but also lagged behind at the youth levels.

A featured post on the FMKorea forum talks about Japan being the number one team in Asia.

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One fan wrote, "Korea-Japan friendly matches are gradually disappearing because we keep losing badly at every level." Another even suggested that South Korea should now stop comparing itself to Japan and look down on closer rivals like China .

Many have also criticized the South Korean Football Association for decisions that are seen as repeating past mistakes, especially with Hong Myung-bo being once again given the reins of the national team after their failure at the 2014 World Cup.

Concerns about the post-Son Heung-min era

Besides the issue of the gap with Japan, another topic that worries fans is the future of the South Korean national team after the era of Son Heung-min.

The match against South Africa saw Son on the bench, only coming on at the start of the second half. Even when he wasn't on the field, South Korea struggled in attack. Many commentators suggested that Lee Kang-in was completely neutralized by the opposition and the team lacked tactical stability.

"Only when Son comes on the field does Lee Kang-in have more space to play," one fan commented. Another bluntly stated: "South Korea cannot live without Son Heung-min."

Many South Korean fans are becoming pessimistic about the national team's prospects after the Son Heung-min era. Photo: Reuters .

For a long time, South Korean fans have hoped for the emergence of a "new Park Ji-sung," and then a "new Son Heung-min." However, the defeat against South Africa made many realize the harsh reality that the void left by the golden generation has yet to be filled.

While Japan consistently produces quality players in Europe and maintains a stable development system, South Korea remains mired in old controversies regarding strategy, personnel, and long-term direction.

The 2026 World Cup may not be over for South Korea yet. But just one loss to South Africa has been enough to trigger the biggest crisis of confidence in the country's football in years. If things don't change soon, the fear of being left far behind by Japan may no longer be a feeling, but an undeniable reality.

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Source: https://znews.vn/bong-da-han-quoc-bi-nhat-ban-bo-xa-post1663023.html