Why didn't soccer fans attend the national team match? Lee Kang-in (24, Paris Saint-Germain) failed to grasp public sentiment properly.
The soccer national team, led by coach Hong Myung-bo, defeated Kuwait 4-0 in the final match of the group stage of the 2026 FIFA North and Central America World Cup Asian third qualifying round held on the 10th at Seoul World Cup Stadium.
Korea, which confirmed its place in the World Cup finals for the 11th consecutive time, finished the World Cup qualifiers with 11 wins and 5 draws. In Group B, both Korea and Jordan secured direct tickets to the World Cup.
Korea was fortunate when Jeon Jin-woo's shot in the 30th minute of the first half led to a consolidation by Fahad Al-Hajeri. In the 6th minute of the second half, Lee Kang-in added a goal to seal the victory. Goals from Oh Hyun-kyu and Lee Jae-sung confirmed the win.
It was a moment to celebrate advancing to the World Cup on home ground. However, only 41,911 fans entered the Seoul World Cup Stadium, which was more than 20,000 fewer than usual. This marked the first time since 2017 that a match at Seoul World Cup Stadium did not draw a crowd of 50,000.
The result was not everything. There was still a cold public sentiment toward coach Hong Myung-bo, the Korea Football Association, and Chairman Chung Mong-gyu.
After the match, Lee Kang-in, selected as the player of the match, made a pointed remark. He said, "I'm not sure if I should say this last thing. Many people attack and criticize the coach and the association. Unfortunately, we are also part of the association, and the coach is our boss. Excessive criticism can impact the players too."
Lee Kang-in continued, "I hope you can focus on the positive aspects. That way, we can perform even better at the World Cup. It would be great if you could support us as much as possible and give us your attention and encouragement."
From Lee Kang-in's perspective, seeing the empty stands could evoke feelings of disappointment toward the fans. However, there are reasons for the fans' actions. Failing to properly understand the fans' sentiments and asking for unconditional support could instead elicit rejection.
Fans do not deny the achievements of the national team, which has qualified for the World Cup finals for the 11th consecutive time. Rather, they point out that there are issues with the association's decisions and procedures during this process. Fans are not only concerned about the results of the next World Cup but also about the future of Korean soccer as a whole.
Refusing to attend the national team matches is the most proactive action fans can take, sending a clear message. However, it seems that Lee Kang-in did not fully understand the fans' sentiments. His remarks could be interpreted as a results-oriented view that everything can be covered as long as soccer is played well.
[OSEN]