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Reuters

South Korea coach Hong Myung-bo says his appointment is not the result of preferential treatment from the Korea Football Association (KFA).
South Korea brought back Hong for a second spell in charge of the team in July, ending a five-month wait for a new coach after Juergen Klinsmann was sacked in February.
He has overseen two World Cup qualifiers since, including a 0-0 draw with Palestine, during which fans expressed their displeasure at his appointment by jeering him.
According to reports in South Korean media, former Norwich City manager David Wagner, Canada coach Jesse Marsch and former Greece coach Gus Poyet were among the other candidates in the frame for the job.
“I don’t think I received any preferential treatment,” Hong said during a session of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee of the country’s parliament on Tuesday, Yonhap News Agency reported.
“I accepted the job because I was told I was the top candidate. Technical director Lee Lim-saeng told me I was the No 1 candidate, as chosen by the National Teams Committee of the KFA. If I had been No 2 or 3, I wouldn’t have accepted the offer.”

In Hong’s first stint in charge, he led the team for 19 games between 2013 and 2014, stepping down after their group-stage exit at the 2014 World Cup.
The 55-year-old had initially said he had no intention of leaving K League champions Ulsan to return to the national team but changed his mind because of a sense of duty.
“It became hard to ignore the difficult position that our national team was in, and I wanted to serve the country one last time,” he added.
Speaking at the same session, KFA President Chung Mong-gyu said it was “inappropriate” for the hiring of a coach to be discussed openly.
“In the future, whether we hire another Korean coach or bring in a foreign coach, I believe disclosing details of every candidate is not a desirable practice,” Chung added.


World Cup 2026: South Korea coach Hong Myung-bo denies allegations of preferential treatment

World Cup: Australia appoint Tony Popovic as qualification hopes hang in the balance

Homeless football World Cup kicks off in Seoul, lauded as ‘force for good’ by Fifa chief

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Fifa

South Korean coach Hong Myung-bo was jeered by fans during the 0-0 draw with Palestine in a World Cup 2026 Asia zone qualifier in Seoul in early September. Photo: AFP

Korea FA president Chung Mong-gyu at the hearing into the hiring of Hong Myung-bo (rear, right). Photo: EPA-EFE

Tony Popovic, the newly appointed head coach for Australia’s national football team, at a press conference in Sydney on Monday. Photo: AFP

Graham Arnold (centre) quit after a scoreless draw with Indonesia (above) and a 1-0 home loss to Bahrain. Photo: AFP

China coach Ivankovic won’t resign, encouraged by improved performance in Saudi loss

China’s players sing the national anthem before their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Saudi Arabia. Photo: AFP

China head coach Branko Ivankovic applauds supporters after his side’s loss to Saudi Arabia. Photo: Xinhua

Hungary team members encourage each other before the match against Italy at the Homeless Euro 2024 tournament. Photo: Reuters

Fifa are providing medals and trophies, and broadcasting the Homeless World Cup on their streaming service. Photo: Reuters

Women’s World Cup: Asian confederation launches stand-alone route to determine qualifiers

China players applaud the fans after playing against New Zealand at the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia. Photo: AFP

Philippines and South Korea at the 2022 Women’s Asian Cup, which usually serves as a World Cup route. Photo: AP

Sport

Football

Media reports say the second-time coach was picked ahead of several foreign candidates but Hong says he was assured he was the top candidate


Media reports say the second-time coach was picked ahead of several foreign candidates but Hong says he was assured he was the top candidate.


Fifa World Cup 2026

South Korea

Greece

Canada