South Korean national team captain Son Heung-min returned to Incheon International Airport early on July 1 following Korea’s disappointing exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Despite the early morning arrival, fans gathered at the airport to welcome the players home, offering words of encouragement and support.
Son Heung-min, along with teammates including Lee Dong-kyung, Kim Jin-kyu, Lee Han-beom, Lee Tae-seok, Lee Ki-hyuk, Bae Jun-ho, Cho Woo-je, and Kang Sang-yun, arrived in Korea after completing their tournament schedule.
When asked by reporters how he felt and what message he had for fans, Son briefly responded: “I’m sorry.” His short but emotional apology reflected the team’s disappointment after failing to progress beyond the group stage.
Although the national team’s performance drew criticism following their early exit, the atmosphere at the airport was noticeably more supportive on this day. Fans wearing national team jerseys began gathering as early as 2 a.m., waiting for the players to arrive. Around 50 supporters and citizens were present near the arrival gate when the team landed.
As Son Heung-min appeared, fans shouted encouraging messages such as: “You did well!”, “Fighting!” and “Don’t bow your head!”. Some fans also held banners reading messages like “Forever with Son Heung-min” and “Stay strong, Jaesung.”
The national team returned to Korea in multiple groups following the conclusion of their World Cup campaign. Head coach Hong Myung-bo and several key players, including Kim Min-jae, Hwang In-beom, Hwang Hee-chan, Baek Seung-ho, Kim Moon-hwan, Lee Kang-in, Seol Young-woo, and Oh Hyeon-gyu, had already returned a day earlier. That arrival, however, was met with a more hostile reaction from some fans.
Korea finished the group stage with one win and two losses, placing third in their group and failing to advance to the knockout rounds. The team ultimately ranked 34th overall in the expanded 48-team tournament format. This marks the first time in eight years that South Korea has failed to advance past the group stage in a World Cup.
Despite the disappointment, the warm reception for Son Heung-min highlighted the strong emotional bond between the national team and its supporters, who continue to stand by their players even in difficult moments.
Sources: 네이트 스포츠
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