South Korean footballers hold 1st training session in Mexico ahead of World Cup opener

By Lee Hugh Posted : June 7, 2026, 13:48 Updated : June 7, 2026, 13:56
South Korean footballers hold a warm-up training session in Zapopan, near Guadalajara in Mexico on June 7, 2026. Yonhap
SEOUL, June 7 (AJP) - With this year's World Cup set to kick off later this week, South Korean footballers held their first training session in Mexico on Saturday, drawing hundreds of fans there.

They will play their first three group-stage matches in the expanded 48-team quadrennial tournament co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the U.S.

The warm-up session took place in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, just a day after their arrival in Mexico, following three weeks of preparation in Utah, which was considered an ideal training location due to its similar altitude to Mexico, during which they also played two friendly matches against Trinidad and Tobago and El Salvador.

South Korea, grouped with Mexico and South Africa, will face Czechia, better known as the Czech Republic, in its opening group-stage match scheduled for Thursday.

"Having two friendlies [in Utah] helped us figure out what we need to work on," Hong said at a press conference.

"The key is to refine our strategies over the remaining days. Since weather conditions here are different from those in Utah, we have to make adjustments. There isn't enough time to do many things, so we have to focus on a few priorities," he added.
 
Fans react as footballer Son Heung-min arrives in Guadalajara, Mexico on June 6, 2026, just days ahead of this year's World Cup. Yonhap
South Korea, ranked 25th in the latest FIFA rankings, may have the edge over 41st-ranked Czechia, but Hong said the European side will still be a tough opponent.

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