Overview
- Coach Hong Myeong-bo announced his resignation while in Mexico after South Korea's group-stage exit from the World Cup.
- Korean police plan a reinforced security deployment of about 100 officers at Incheon International Airport for the team's return and organizers will not hold the customary arrival ceremony.
- Domestic pressure has been intense, with President Lee Jae-myung publicly criticizing the coaching selection and reports of violent online threats directed at Hong.
- Mexico City health authorities confirmed two people died of asphyxiation after a Mexico–Ecuador match and investigations into the circumstances are ongoing.
- The episode follows questions about Hong's 2024 appointment and recalls the long-standing tradition of airport welcomes that dates back to the 2002 World Cup, highlighting political and safety fallout from major sporting events.