Son Heung-min returns from World Cup greeted by supportive fans

Son Heung-min led a small group of South Korean national team players back to Incheon International Airport early Wednesday, greeted by encouraging fans after their FIFA World Cup exit. The captain, who turns 34 next week, has not confirmed if this was his final World Cup appearance.

What happened at the airport?

Dozens of supporters welcomed Son and his teammates with cheers and messages of support. Fans shouted, 'Don't hang your head' and 'Thank you for your hard work' as the players walked through the gate. This contrasted sharply with the boos directed at former coach Hong Myung-bo the previous day.

Why did South Korea fail to advance?

South Korea finished third in Group A with three points, winning one match and losing two. They missed out on advancing as one of the best third-place teams, ranking 10th among those nations. Hong Myung-bo resigned after failing to guide the team past the group stage for the second time in his coaching career.

What comes next for Son Heung-min?

The government plans to audit the Korea Football Association (KFA) to investigate the team's poor performance. Son took to social media to apologize to fans and promised to come back stronger. His future with the national team remains uncertain, though he has not ruled out retirement.

Son and his teammates traveled in small groups due to flight booking difficulties. The captain did not answer media questions upon arrival, focusing instead on recovering from the tournament.