South Korean national team captain Son Heung-min returned to Incheon International Airport in early July following Korea’s disappointing elimination from the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Despite arriving early in the morning, 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 the tournament schedule.
When reporters asked him how he felt and what message he had for fans, Son responded briefly: “I am sorry.” His brief but emotional apology reflected the team’s disappointment at failing to get past the group stage.
Although the national team’s performance drew criticism after its early exit, the atmosphere at the airport was noticeably more favorable that day. Fans wearing national team jerseys began gathering as early as 2 am, awaiting the arrival of the players. Around 50 fans and citizens were present near the arrival gate when the team landed.
When Son Heung-min appeared, fans shouted encouraging messages such as: “You did well!”, “Battleman!” AND “Don’t bow your head!”. Some fans also held banners with messages like “Forever with Son Heung-min” AND “Stay strong, Jaesung.”
The national team returned to Korea in multiple groups following the conclusion of the World Cup campaign. 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 the day before. 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 round of 16. The team ultimately placed 34th overall in the expanded 48-team tournament format. It is the first time in eight years that South Korea has failed to get past the group stage of a World Cup.
Despite the disappointment, the warm welcome given to Son Heung-min highlighted the strong emotional bond between the national team and its fans, who continue to stand by their players even in difficult times.
Sources: Nate Sports
