Yang Hyun-jun vows to give everything if given another chance

"If I'm given the chance, I will throw myself into it completely — I feel so sorry to the team and the fans."

South Korea winger Yang Hyun-jun expressed deep regret Saturday over the team's precarious position at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with the side facing elimination in the group stage.

Yang spoke to reporters before training at Chivas Valle Verde in Zapopan, Mexico, on Saturday (Korean Standard Time). "Honestly, the mood isn't great," he said. "We'll have to watch the remaining matches in the other groups and cheer."

South Korea lost 1-0 to South Africa in their third Group A match, finishing third in the group and leaving their round-of-32 fate in the hands of results elsewhere.

Whether Hong Myung-bo's side advances to the round of 32 will be decided by the outcomes of Saturday afternoon's matches in Groups J, K and L.

"We got off to a good start with a win in the first match, but in the second and third games we were in positions where we could have taken points and didn't," Yang said. "That's what makes it so frustrating."

Asked about the reasons for the loss to South Africa, Yang said the team had analyzed and prepared hard for the opponent, but unexpected mistakes on the pitch cost them. "Things always happen in a game that you don't anticipate, and after we conceded from an unforced error, the mistakes kept coming and our confidence dropped," he said. "The momentum shifted to them and we couldn't get the result."

Making his World Cup debut, Yang said the tournament had been his sole focus coming in. "I've been running toward this — it's so heartbreaking to find myself in this situation," he said. "I should have played with more of a sense of responsibility." He added that if another opportunity came, "whether it's five minutes or 10 minutes, I will show the will to win no matter what."