Takeshi Okada, Vice President of the Japan Football Association and former national team head coach, has offered support to ex-South Korea manager Hong Myung-bo following his resignation after a failed World Cup qualifying campaign. Okada revealed in an interview with Weekly Bunshun that Hong contacted him saying, "Coach Okada, something terrible has happened," and Okada invited him to come to Imabari for protection.
The long-standing bond between Okada and Hong
The relationship between Takeshi Okada and Hong Myung-bo spans decades. Hong played in the J-League during his career, forging strong ties with Japanese football. He later became head coach of South Korea but finished third in their group during the 2026 FIFA World Cup North America qualifiers, with one win and two losses, failing to reach the round of 32. This exit triggered intense backlash in South Korea, leading Hong to voluntarily resign while in Guadalajara, Mexico. Upon returning home, criticism continued, and he was summoned as a witness before the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee hearing.
Political pressure and the scope of criticism
The hearing investigated allegations of poor management of the national team and player squad. Politicians questioned Hong regarding player selections in specific matches and tactical failures. The probe even extended to personal matters such as the military service issues of Hong's children. South Korean President Lee Jae-myung intervened directly via social networking services, stating, "This failure to qualify for the World Cup finals, which left the nation feeling empty, appears to be the result of organizational and personnel failures." President Lee, a former honorary president of a professional football club and a self-described spiritual Red Devil, added, "Personnel decisions determine everything. Leaders prioritizing loyalty over ability and appointing incompetent individuals leads to clear outcomes."
Japan's current form and upcoming challenges
In contrast to the turmoil in South Korean football, the Japan national team is steadily preparing for its own campaign. Their last result was a 2-1 defeat to Brazil on June 29th. Recent form over the last five matches shows two wins, two draws, and one loss (LDWDW, most recent first). The next crucial fixture is at home against Uruguay on September 24th. Fans can track the team's progress on our stats page.
Hong's departure to the US and Okada's offer
Unable to withstand the political pressure and public criticism from domestic and international sources, Hong Myung-bo ultimately left Korea for Los Angeles, USA. Just before his departure, he called his old friend Takeshi Okada. In the interview, Okada said, "Recently, he called me and said, 'Coach Okada, something terrible has happened.' I told him, 'Don't worry, come to Imabari; I will protect you.'" Okada, now 70, is the legendary coach who led Japan to its first-ever World Cup finals in 1998 and guided them to a historic away round-of-16 run in 2010. During past Asian qualifiers, he experienced such intense pressure that police patrol cars were stationed outside his home 24 hours a day and his family received threats.
The Japan national team is now fine-tuning its preparations for the September clash with Uruguay, with the full schedule available on our fixtures page. The latest squad updates can be found on the squad page. Hong Myung-bo's situation highlights the immense pressures of international management and the enduring bonds that exist within the football community across borders.
