Hong Myung-bo shared his realistic goals ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, stating that reaching the Round of 32 is the primary objective. In a recent interview with KBS, the domestic broadcaster for the 2026 World Cup, the South Korean head coach emphasized that advancing past the group stage is the first step, after which the team’s overall situation and atmosphere will guide further plans.
“Before, advancing from the group stage meant the Round of 16, but now it’s the Round of 32,” Hong said. “My realistic target is to first get through the group stage and secure a spot in the Round of 32. That’s the most immediate goal.”
He added, “If we manage to reach the Round of 32, then anything can happen after that. It’s similar to our past experiences in international tournaments. We don’t know how the team’s morale will shift in that situation, so realistically, I can say our target is to safely land in the Round of 32.”
Hong also cautioned about the Czech Republic, which qualified through the European playoffs. “Many didn’t expect the Czech Republic to advance. They are a physically strong team. Although they haven’t qualified for the World Cup often recently, they are a traditional European powerhouse, so we must not take them lightly. We need to prepare even more thoroughly.”
On the growing gap between South Korean and Japanese football, Hong offered his perspective. He believes Japan’s current success is the result of decades of consistent effort.
“Japanese football is performing very well and achieving great results. From our standpoint, it’s enviable,” Hong said. “But Japan’s football didn’t change overnight. Looking back, when I played in Japan, they were already preparing, and now those efforts are paying off.”
He continued, “Japan’s football results didn’t come from just a few years of work. They have been preparing for over 30 years, and now those results are showing. The importance of time is clearly visible in Japan’s case.”
Hong also remarked, “The coach of the Japanese national team has been in charge for quite a long time. Naturally, that continuity helps the team improve. But in our case, whenever something happens, we seek new changes. As a result, the national team lacks time stability, and players are constantly changing.” Japan’s coach, Hajime Moriyasu, took over in 2018 and is now in his eighth year. Under his leadership, Japan has built a solid organizational structure and quick counterattacks, making them competitive on the world stage, highlighted by two EAFF E-1 Championship titles and a Round of 16 finish at the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
“They have a strong identity, and that shows they’ve had a really good period of development,” Hong concluded.
