SEOUL, June 25 (AJP) -Disbelief, disappointment and frustration filled the air at Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul, where thousands gathered at the much-loved open space for the make-or-break Group A match against South Africa at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Thursday morning, Korean time.
All 11,000 seats prepared for the official public viewing were filled before 10 a.m., prompting Seoul city officials to block a traffic lane to accommodate the sprawling cheering squad.
Fans dressed in red waved Taegeukgi flags, beat drums and chanted "Daehan Minguk" as anticipation built ahead of kickoff.
Before the match, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon and South African Ambassador Cindy Mkhize exchanged their national team jerseys in a symbolic gesture of friendship and sportsmanship, drawing warm applause from the crowd.
With South Korea's hopes of advancing to the Round of 32 hanging in the balance, every touch of the ball drew cheers or anxious gasps from the packed square. Head coach Hong Myung-bo started Oh Hyeon-gyu as the lone striker, but South Africa gradually took control with relentless pressing and swift counterattacks.
The breakthrough came in the 63rd minute. Taphelo Maseko met a low cross from the left flank and fired a left-footed shot into the net to give South Africa a decisive 1-0 lead. The transformation in Gwanghwamun was immediate.
The chants stopped. Many supporters held their heads in disbelief. Others stared silently at the giant screen as sighs spread through the crowd. Only the Red Devils, South Korea's official supporters' group, kept their drums beating and voices ringing across the plaza until the final whistle. Despite several late chances, South Korea failed to find an equalizer.
When the match ended in a 1-0 defeat, television commentators described it as an "unbelievable defeat." A heavy silence settled over Gwanghwamun Square.
Many supporters lingered long after the final whistle, consoling one another while some wiped away tears. The chants of "Daehan Minguk" that had echoed through the plaza before kickoff had faded into silence, but the Red Devils continued applauding and singing for the national team until the very end.
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