Lee Kang-in (24, Paris Saint-Germain) could not hide his disappointment while looking at the stands of the Seoul World Cup Stadium, which were nearly one-third empty.

The South Korean national football team, led by head coach Hong Myung-bo, defeated Kuwait 4-0 in the final match of Group B of the 2026 FIFA North and Central America World Cup Asian third qualifying round, held at the Seoul World Cup Stadium on the evening of the 10th.

As a result, Korea finished the World Cup qualifying unbeaten. The national team wrapped up the third and fourth rounds of qualifying for the North and Central America World Cup with 11 wins and 5 draws, without a single loss. This achievement comes 16 years after the 2010 South Africa World Cup.

Korea also secured its place in the finals early on. On the 6th, they won 2-0 in an away match against Iraq, marking a historic 11 consecutive World Cup qualifications. This is the first in Asia and the sixth overall in the world. In Group B, Korea and Jordan both secured direct tickets to the World Cup.

Additionally, Korea marked its final match at home with a significant victory. In the third qualifying round for the 2022 Qatar World Cup, they unfortunately lost in the final match against the United Arab Emirates, but this time achieved a different result. Lee Jin-woo opened the scoring in the 30th minute of the first half, and in the second half, Lee Kang-in, Oh Hyun-kyu, and Lee Jae-sung scored consecutively.

The standout player of the day was Lee Kang-in. He not only scored an additional goal with a powerful shot from an impossible angle but also led Hong Myung-bo's attack with sharp kicks, agile movements, and elegant turns throughout the match.

However, after the match, Lee Kang-in expressed his wishes rather than reveling in the victory. In an interview, he began by saying, "I’m not sure if I can say this for the last time" and then stated, "There are many people who criticize and attack (head coach Hong Myung-bo) and the association."

Lee Kang-in continued, "We are inevitably affiliated with the association, and the coach is our boss. Excessive criticism can impact the players as well. I hope people can see more of the positive aspects. That way, we can perform better at the World Cup. It would be great if you could help us as much as possible, show interest, and cheer for us."

Lee Kang-in's somewhat unusual comments drew immediate attention. Various opinions circulated among fans. However, from the players' perspective, it is natural to desire more support and affection from fans with only a year left until the World Cup.

After leaving the press conference room, Lee Kang-in shared similar thoughts in the mixed zone. He stated, "Of course, I think the association needs to do better, and the players are all aware of that. The players are doing their best to convey that to the association," while adding, "Ultimately, we play for Korea, whether it's for the World Cup or any national team game. We play to make our citizens happy."

He also expressed disappointment at the noticeably empty stands. The number of spectators that day was 41,911, which was insufficient to fill the Seoul World Cup Stadium, which has over 60,000 seats. Lee Kang-in remarked, "This seems to be the match where the stadium looked the most empty since I was selected for the national team. If the atmosphere continues to decline like this, Korean football will lose interest from more people. This would not only be detrimental to the players but also diminish the joy we can provide to our citizens."

He added, "So I hope that you also see a lot of good things and, naturally, criticize where criticism is due, but not excessively. Excessive criticism does not help the players either. I hope that as many people as possible love football in a positive atmosphere. Everyone, including the players, the association, and the coaching staff, should work towards a positive outcome. Of course, criticism is necessary, but I think that support and interest are needed more than excessive criticism."

While doing so, Lee Kang-in took care to ensure his comments would not be misunderstood. He clarified, "I did not intend to attack the fans. I was just hoping for a more positive outlook," and added, "There may be people who feel bad, but I hope you do not take it that way. I wish for more players to be happier and to provide happiness to more people."

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