Jeon Hyun-moo and Lee Young-pyo were taken aback when they saw the starting lineup for the South Africa match at the 2026 FIFA North and Central America World Cup.
On the episode of KBS 2TV’s “The Boss’s Ears Are Donkey Ears” airing on the 5th, behind-the-scenes stories about Jeon Hyun-moo—who served as the commentator for the 2026 FIFA North and Central America World Cup match between South Korea and South Africa—will be revealed. When Son Heung-min and Lee Jae-sung were left out of the starting lineup, Lee Young-pyo and Jeon Hyun-moo—who were at the venue—as well as Lee Kyung-kyu in the fan section could not hide their bewilderment.
The episode will feature the commentary team’s vivid reactions that took place off-camera. After checking the starting lineup, Jeon Hyun-moo asked Lee Young-pyo why the lineup was configured that way, and Lee Young-pyo appeared flustered and avoided answering. Lee Kyung-kyu also expressed anxiety and disappointment over the lineup that lacked key players.
Jeon Hyun-moo also expressed his disappointment that the World Cup goal celebration he had prepared was canceled due to the team’s failure to advance to the Round of 32. He drew laughter by promising to cheer even harder for the K League in the future and looking forward to performing the celebration with Lee Young-pyo.
World Cup Commentary Tensions
The upcoming episode of 'Boss in the Mirror' reveals the behind-the-scenes reactions of Jun Hyun-moo and Lee Young-pyo during the 2026 FIFA World Cup match between South Korea and South Africa. The commentary team expressed visible shock upon discovering that key players Son Heung-min and Lee Jae-sung were excluded from the starting lineup.
Expert Reactions to Lineup Changes
The unexpected starting lineup drew concern from both the professional commentary booth and celebrity spectators, including Lee Kyung-kyu. As the team faced a difficult 32-round exit, the broadcast captures the candid frustration of the commentators as they navigated the controversial roster decisions.