South Korea left the World Cup in turmoil after the team's quick elimination drew heavy criticism from the country's president, who called coach Hong Myung-bo “incapable,” while South Korea media reported the coach had already quit.
South Korea won its opening match against Czech Republic, then lost its next two Group A matches to South Africa and Mexico.
South Korea hoped it would qualify for the next round as one of the third-place teams to advance in this year's expanded tournament. That ended when Congo defeated Uzbekistan 3-1 on Saturday.
The quick exit for a team that expected to advance prompted harsh criticism from President Lee Jae Myung, who called for a complete review of the national team program.
“As a former honorary professional football club chairman and, at heart, a member of the Red Devils, I feel not just surprise but deep bewilderment at this unexpected result," the president said in a lengthy statement critical of national team structure and oversight and coach Myung-bo's appointment in the first place.
“Once again, it has been proven that personnel decisions determine everything. If loyalty and factionalism are valued over competence and an incapable person is appointed as a leader, the outcome is as predictable as fire,” the president said.
Hong, 57, was in his second stint with the national team. He was the coach at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil when South Korea also failed to advance past the group stage.
South Korea is a regular at the World Cup with 11 consecutive appearances, and was a semifinalist when it was co-host of the tournament in 2002.
President Myung called for the national Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to review the national team and its failures.
"I sincerely apologize to the public for the deep disappointment caused by this absurd situation. We will move swiftly to reform sports administration to ensure this does not happen again,” Myung said.
See more of AP’s World Cup coverage here
Soccer fans react as they watch a live broadcasting of the World Cup Group A soccer match between South Africa and South Korea at a public viewing venue in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
South Korea's Lee Kang-in (19) reacts at the end of the World Cup Group A soccer match between South Africa and South Korea in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)
South Korea head coach Hong Myung-bo looks on ahead the World Cup Group A soccer match between South Africa and South Korea in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)
NOTTINGHAM, England (AP) — England captain Ben Stokes made a stunning mid-match retirement announcement, took a wicket off his very next ball and was later dismissed for an explosive 20-ball 30 as an opener in his final test innings as New Zealand finished an extraordinary Day 4 of the deciding test in line for a series-clinching win.
One of the most remarkable days in the history of English cricket started with Stokes informing stunned teammates in the dressing room that he'd be retiring from international cricket after the match at Trent Bridge.
It ended with England unable to rally behind a call to arms from its captain of the past four years — “I’ve had many trips to the well before for this team,” Stokes said, “and I’ve got one more trip to do” — as New Zealand’s players left the field on the cusp of delivering one of the country’s great test series victories.
England reached stumps on 103-4 after 15 overs, still needing 270 runs in its seemingly forlorn chase of 373 to win on a deteriorating pitch and heading for a first defeat in a home series of three or more tests since 2012.
This match in Nottingham — with the series tied at 1-1 — will be better remembered for a dramatic exit from international cricket by Stokes, who had only just been recalled to the team after being dropped for the second test for disciplinary reasons.
About 15 minutes before tea and with New Zealand completely on top, an England statement was published out of the blue saying Stokes would be retiring from national-team duty at the end of the test. England Cricket posted a social-media video showing him making an emotional speech in the dressing room.
With his first ball after the announcement filtered out, Stokes sent down a delivery that was edged by New Zealand batter Zak Foulkes to second slip where the catch was taken by Harry Brook, the man likely to take over as England test captain.
It was quite the symbolic moment.
Stokes led the team to the dressing room at the end of the session to a standing ovation from fans and he ended up bowling a team-high 25 overs, taking 2-49. He was unable to dismiss Daryl Mitchell, who weathered repeated blows to the body to deliver a gutsy 100 not out and help New Zealand to 288-9 before captain Tom Latham declared.
Ten minutes later, the outgoing England captain was walking out with Ben Duckett after promoting himself to open the batting in the chase.
Determined to go out in a blaze of glory, Stokes slog-swept, scooped and smashed shots to the ropes in hitting two sixes and two fours in a 37-minute knock that was something of a blur and was cheered incessantly by the crowd.
The end came with England on 50-0, with Stokes flaying Foulkes to Mitchell at mid-on. Cue another standing ovation.
“We just didn’t want their bowlers to be able to settle,” Stokes said about his decision to open. “I likened it to going out there and just causing as much chaos as possible.”
Three more batters were dismissed, including Brook, who hit a six and a four off his first two balls before departing for 21. Foulkes had 3-42 off 5.5 overs.
Not since 1999 has New Zealand won a series in England of three tests or more but it is a huge favorite now to clinch a 2-1 win.
Joe Root was unbeaten on 9 and Emilio Gay was 6 not out. They are the only specialist batters left for England.
The English haven’t lost a home series of three tests or more since 2012. If they do, there would be more pressure on the team’s leadership after a humiliating 4-1 Ashes series defeat and subsequent concerns about its professionalism in the wake of the dropping of Stokes and Gus Atkinson for the second test for a disciplinary matter.
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New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell, right, celebrates reaching a century on day four of the Third cricket Test between England and New Zealand in Nottingham, England, Sunday, June 28, 2026. (Joe Giddens/PA via AP)
England's Ben Stokes batting on day four of the Third cricket Test between England and New Zealand in Nottingham, England, Sunday, June 28, 2026. (Joe Giddens/PA via AP)
England's Ben Stokes walks off after being caught by New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell on day four of the Third cricket Test between England and New Zealand in Nottingham, England, Sunday, June 28, 2026. (Joe Giddens/PA via AP)
England's Ben Stokes, second left, celebrates with teammates the wicket of New Zealand's Mitchell Santner on day four of the Third Rothesay Test in Nottingham, England, Sunday, June 28, 2026. (Joe Giddens/PA via AP)
New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell, right, celebrates reaching a half century on day four of the Third Rothesay Test in Nottingham, England, Sunday, June 28, 2026. (Joe Giddens/PA via AP)
England's Jofra Archer celebrates the wicket of New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell before being overturned via a DRS review on day four of the Third Test cricket match between England and New Zealand, in Nottingham, England, Sunday June 28, 2026. (Joe Giddens/PA via AP)
England's Ben Stokes, left looks on with teammates on day four of the Third Test cricket match between England and New Zealand, in Nottingham, England, Sunday June 28, 2026. (Joe Giddens/PA via AP)
England's Jamie Smith, right, reacts as New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell is struck by the ball on day four of the Third Test cricket match between England and New Zealand, in Nottingham, England, Sunday June 28, 2026. (Joe Giddens/PA via AP)
England's Joe Root, right, speaks to Jamie Smith on day four of the Third Test cricket match between England and New Zealand, in Nottingham, England, Sunday June 28, 2026. (Joe Giddens/PA via AP)
New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell bats, on day four of the Third Test cricket match between England and New Zealand, in Nottingham, England, Sunday June 28, 2026. (Joe Giddens/PA via AP)
