'Benching superstar Son Heung-min was fatal': Foreign media stunned by South Korea's shock loss to South Africa

South Korea suffered a stunning defeat to South Africa on Wednesday, dropping to third place in Group A and failing to secure automatic advancement to the round of 32.

South Korea lost 1-0 to South Africa in the final Group A match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Estadio BBVA in Monterrey, Mexico. FIFA-ranked 60th, South Africa pulled off a major upset against 24th-ranked South Korea, advancing to the round of 16 for the first time in World Cup history.

With Son Heung-min (LAFC) left out of the starting lineup, Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich) attempted a header just two minutes into the match but failed to convert. South Korea struggled throughout against South Africa's intense midfield pressure and pace.

Coach Hong Myung-bo brought Son on at the start of the second half in a bid to turn the tide, but the team's sluggish performance showed no improvement. South Korea's defense crumbled against a South African counterattack — just as it had in the first half — conceding the only goal, and the team never managed an equalizer.

Hong's bold decision to bench captain Son backfired badly. The team was well behind from the opening half, and the move is now widely condemned as a critical misstep.

Foreign media also questioned Hong's decision to start Son on the bench. ESPN wrote that South Korea "made the bizarre decision to bench superstar forward Son Heung-min, as if content with their round-of-32 berth — a choice that ultimately proved fatal."

Fox Sports was equally critical, saying Hong "made the stunning call to bench his captain and leader Son Heung-min, a decision that ultimately fired the starting gun on a disastrous defeat."

Fox Sports also called it "one of the most surprising managerial decisions in World Cup history," adding: "He sent Son to the bench with everything on the line. Losing the team's key player clearly hurt them, and it dealt a blow to morale as well."

South Africa, by contrast, drew praise. Despite few expecting much from them after an opening-match defeat, Hugo Bruce's side consistently improved under his guidance and delivered a composed performance.

With South Korea failing to finish second in the group, their fate in the round of 32 now rests on results elsewhere. South Korea currently sit on three points with a goal difference of minus-one.

Of the 12 third-place teams across all groups, only the top eight advance, meaning South Korea must finish ahead of at least four other third-place sides to secure a spot in the round of 32. Their fate will be decided June 28.