Japan’s Samurai Blue exited the 2026 World Cup in the round of 32, undone by a 2-1 defeat to Brazil after conceding a stoppage-time winner in Houston. South Korea’s campaign ended even earlier, their hopes of advancing as one of the best third-placed teams extinguished when DR Congo beat Uzbekistan 3-1. The twin eliminations, however, triggered starkly different responses from the two national federations.

Within hours of South Korea’s fate being sealed, head coach Hong Myung-bo resigned. He faced a hostile reception at Incheon International Airport, where hundreds of supporters jeered the returning squad, and South Korean media reported that he had received death threats from fans. It was the second time Hong has stepped down after a World Cup disappointment, having done so in 2014. In Tokyo, by contrast, Japan Football Association (JFA) president Tsuneyasu Miyamoto signalled continuity. The JFA informally offered Hajime Moriyasu a one-year contract extension, with the explicit aim of retaining him for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia. Moriyasu, who has led the side since 2018, told a press conference he needed time to rest and reflect, and did not confirm whether he would accept.

Viewed from Tokyo, the JFA’s move reflects a long-term calculation. Japanese analysts note that Moriyasu guided the team out of a group that included the Netherlands, and the narrow loss to Brazil was seen as evidence of competitiveness rather than failure. The federation’s offer, however, drew a sharp public intervention from former Japan international Keisuke Honda. Writing on social media, Honda called the one-year deal a stopgap because the JFA could not find another candidate, and proposed himself for the role, saying he was ready to be sacked if Japan failed to win the Asian Cup. Honda’s only previous managerial experience was a four-year spell with Cambodia, where he recorded nine wins in 34 matches.

In Seoul, the mood was far less forgiving. Hong’s resignation was the second high-profile coaching departure of the round of 32, after Ronald Koeman left the Netherlands post following their loss to Morocco. The pressure on Asian coaches to deliver immediate results remains intense, and the contrasting fates of Moriyasu and Hong illustrate how domestic expectations and institutional patience can diverge sharply even after similar on-field outcomes. For now, Japan’s next concrete step is the Asian Cup, with or without Moriyasu, while South Korea must begin a search for a new leader to rebuild before the same tournament.