Lee Jae-sung laments South Korea's early exit from the 2026 World Cup

South Korean midfielder Lee Jae-sung posted on social media after the national team’s early elimination from the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America. He expressed that the outcome was “unimaginable” and difficult to accept, apologizing to fans for delivering “the pain of defeat instead of the joy of victory.”

Korea finished the group stage with one win (2‑1 over the Czech Republic) and two losses (0‑1 to Mexico in Guadalajara and 0‑1 to South Africa), ending third in Group A and missing the knockout round. Lee thanked supporters for their sincere encouragement throughout the tournament and pledged to work harder to bring future joy to the nation.

The comments highlight the disappointment of Korean fans after the team’s disappointing campaign, while the players look ahead to future competitions.