![South Korea's national football team returned to their base camp in Guadalajara, Mexico, on Thursday (local time) and held a recovery training session at Sapopan Chivas Valle Verde after losing to South Africa in their Group A third match at the 2026 North America World Cup and awaiting results from other groups to determine their round-of-32 fate. Head coach Hong Myung-bo listens to a reporter's question at a press conference held before the session. [Yonhap]](https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2026/06/26/news-p.v1.20260626.0483f4197dc64eb39dc7bc5a1075e4e5_P1.jpg)
A photo of a convenience store door bearing a sign that reads "Hong Myung-bo is banned from entry" has gone viral online, amid growing fan anger over South Korea's national football team's defeat against South Africa at the 2026 North America World Cup.
The image, posted Friday on X (formerly Twitter), shows an A4-sized notice prominently displayed at the center of a convenience store entrance, with the words "Hong Myung-bo is banned from entry" printed in large text.
South Korea lost 1-0 to South Africa on Thursday. A draw would have been enough to finish second in the group and advance to the round of 32, but the defeat dropped the team to third place, leaving their fate dependent on results from other groups.
Online reactions ranged from sympathy to solidarity. "The owner must have been furious to do that," one user wrote. Others said they "felt the rage of football fans" and wanted to "put it up at every gate at Incheon Airport."
According to industry sources, the printed format used for the sign is a standard template that individual convenience store branches prepare for short-term discount promotions on everyday goods. It remains unclear whether the store owner posted the notice or a visitor placed it as a prank.
choigo@heraldcorp.com
