2026 World Cup: Head Coach Receives Death Threats After Elimination

South Korean police have launched an investigation into a serious death threat posted online against former national soccer team coach Hong Myung-bo, following the team’s failure to qualify for the World Cup round of 16.

According to a report by Radio Seoul, a user who identified himself as a 41-year-old U.S. citizen posted a message stating his intention to kill Hong upon his arrival at Incheon International Airport when he returns to South Korea. Authorities are treating the case as a possible act of intimidation and are working to identify the suspect.

The incident is seen as a further escalation of a growing wave of public hostility, which has spread from online spaces to real-world protests. In addition to the online threat, doctored images have also circulated insinuating behavior falsely attributed to Hong, along with posters displayed in some establishments in Gyeonggi Province reading “Hong Myung-bo, outcast.”

The tension is reportedly linked to deep disappointment over the 0-1 loss to South Africa in the final Group A match, a result that sealed South Korea’s elimination from the tournament.