"Is school a place for learning, or a place to play?" vs. "There is no better 'living education' than watching the World Cup together."
With the South Korea vs. Mexico match in the second round of the Group A stage of the 2026 North and Central America World Cup approaching, schools are facing a deep dilemma.
Most of the World Cup matches are held during morning school hours. Since the decision to watch the games on campus is left to the discretion of individual teachers, classrooms are experiencing mixed results, leading to complaints from students and parents.
Opinions are sharply divided: some argue that watching the World Cup together is an extension of education that fosters patriotism and unity, while others fear it could devolve into "killing time" that disrupts the learning atmosphere.
Recently, a high school in Yecheon, North Gyeongsang Province, faced controversy after students watched a World Cup match during class ahead of their final exams.
When the school principal reprimanded the teachers who allowed the students to watch the game, a student issued a public statement in protest. In the statement, the student claimed, "Our teachers wanted to give us an unforgettable memory to relieve our academic stress, so they dedicated class time to show us the match. However, the principal treated the teachers like criminals, demanding they be 'hunted down' and criticizing them harshly."
As the repercussions grew, the school countered, "It was not a 'witch hunt' as mentioned in the statement, but rather a measure to restrain excessive noise during class time." The school added that the situation has since stabilized.
An official from the secondary education department of the North Gyeongsang Province Office of Education explained, "If the decision is made through consultation among members within the scope of a normal curriculum, and if plans are in place to guarantee the learning rights of students who do not wish to watch, then watching the World Cup can certainly be operated as an educational activity."
As the debate continues, some parents have raised their voices, asking, "What about the kids who don't want to watch soccer?" and "Teachers should be faithful to their classes above all else."
Meanwhile, netizens who heard the news have been engaging in a heated debate, with comments such as, "It's a memory you can't buy with money, so just let them watch," and "They can't even go on school trips, so why stop them from watching the World Cup?"
Reported by Yoon Seong-sik | Video by Seo Byeong-wook | Produced by SBS Digital News
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.
Subtitled News: "Is School for Playing?" vs. "Let Them Be"... Heated Debate Over Watching World Cup During Class
By 윤성식 에디터 | Jun 19, 2026
