"Korea is preparing a new project aimed at the 2030 World Cup. Aguirre has emerged as one of the most attractive candidates." That's TV Azteca, and the Korea Football Association is reportedly days away from making contact to gauge his interest.
South Korea's 2026 World Cup campaign was a slow-motion collapse. A 2-1 comeback win over Czechia in the opener gave the illusion of promise. Then came back-to-back 1-0 defeats to Mexico and South Africa — the second of which saw captain Son Heung-min controversially dropped to the bench. That decision lit the fuse. Hong Myung-bo resigned shortly after. A squad featuring 19 overseas-based players, including Son, Lee Kang-in, and Kim Min-jae, managed a single goal across their final two group-stage matches. That's not bad luck. That's a structural problem.
Why Aguirre makes sense — and why it's not a done deal
Aguirre knows Asian football. He coached Japan in 2014, so the cultural and logistical adjustment isn't starting from zero. With Mexico, he steered a side that had been group-stage eliminated in 2022 all the way to the Round of 16 in 2026 before a 3-2 loss to England ended his tenure. The co-hosts going out in the knockouts still felt like progress — enough progress that South Korea is apparently taking notes.
At 67, Aguirre stepped down after the Mexico exit and has since made clear he's in no rush. "Right now, I want to travel with my wife and take my granddaughters along," he said. "There's no need to rush." Saudi Arabia is also chasing him, which means South Korea isn't the only offer on the table.
What this means for South Korea's direction
The KFA is clearly thinking beyond the next tournament. A 2030-focused project with an experienced hand who's navigated World Cup pressure on multiple continents is a coherent strategy — though it depends entirely on whether Aguirre actually wants the job. South Korea's next-match odds and longer-term 2030 qualifying prices will shift considerably once a permanent appointment is confirmed. Right now, everything hinges on that phone call.
Nothing is final. But Aguirre is the name, and the KFA knows it needs to move.
