[Edaily Starin YUN GI BACK Reporter] “The soccer community really needs to wake up and do a lot of soul-searching.”
Soccer player Ki Sung-yueng stated that the South Korean national team, which was eliminated early from the 2026 FIFA North and Central America World Cup, needs change and renewal. Rather than shifting the blame elsewhere, he expressed his sincere thoughts, saying that he, too, feels a sense of responsibility as a member of the soccer community.

In a preview clip released on the 17th by tvN’s “You Quiz on the Block,” Ki Sung-yueng recalled his visit to the North and Central America World Cup.
When Yoo Jae-suk remarked, “You went to Mexico to watch the World Cup, and many people were disappointed with the results,” Ki Sung-yueng recalled, “I returned home after watching only the first match against the Czech Republic. Up until then, the atmosphere was positive, and we were discussing whether we would finish first or second in the group.”
He also mentioned that he had met with the national team players on-site to offer words of encouragement, adding, “From the perspective of a player who’s been through it, it’s very disappointing that the tournament ended this way,” and “I fully understand the feelings of the disappointed public.”
Ki Sung-yueng emphasized, “The results of this World Cup should serve as a catalyst for Korean soccer to consider fundamental changes,” adding, “I hope that Korean soccer will undergo significant reform moving forward.”
He also reflected on his own role. Ki Sung-yueng expressed a sense of responsibility, saying, “I am a soccer player myself, but lately I’ve been thinking a lot about what I’ve actually done for Korean soccer.”
The South Korean national soccer team failed to advance to the Round of 32 at the 2026 North and Central America World Cup, ending the tournament with a performance that fell short of expectations.