SEOUL, April 17 (AJP) - The final roster of South Korea's national soccer team for this year's FIFA World Cup will be decided by mid-May, the Korea Football Association said on Friday.
Once the 26-man roster is announced by head coach Hong Myung-bo on May 16, they will leave for Salt Lake City, Utah to hold a pre-tournament camp to prepare for the quadrennial sporting event.
This year's World Cup, which kicks off in June, will be the first to feature 48 teams and three host countries - Canada, Mexico, and the U.S.
Salt Lake City was chosen as the training site because it sits at about 1,460 meters above sea level and has time zone and altitude conditions, similar to Guadalajara, Mexico, located at roughly 1,500 meters, where South Korea will play its first two group matches, making it an ideal place to prepare.
It also aims to reduce travel fatigue and jet lag from long-haul flights by avoiding travel to Seoul before flying to World Cup venues for players based at European clubs.
About a two-week stay there, before leaving for Guadalajara on June 5, would also help players adjust their fitness and regain normal cardiopulmonary performance, which typically takes about two to three weeks at such altitudes.
But the full squad is not expected to gather until late May, as players based in Europe are likely to join later depending on their respective club schedules.
Grouped with the Czech Republic, Mexico and South Africa, South Korea will face the European side in its opening group-stage match slated for June 11.
Once the 26-man roster is announced by head coach Hong Myung-bo on May 16, they will leave for Salt Lake City, Utah to hold a pre-tournament camp to prepare for the quadrennial sporting event.
This year's World Cup, which kicks off in June, will be the first to feature 48 teams and three host countries - Canada, Mexico, and the U.S.
Salt Lake City was chosen as the training site because it sits at about 1,460 meters above sea level and has time zone and altitude conditions, similar to Guadalajara, Mexico, located at roughly 1,500 meters, where South Korea will play its first two group matches, making it an ideal place to prepare.
It also aims to reduce travel fatigue and jet lag from long-haul flights by avoiding travel to Seoul before flying to World Cup venues for players based at European clubs.
About a two-week stay there, before leaving for Guadalajara on June 5, would also help players adjust their fitness and regain normal cardiopulmonary performance, which typically takes about two to three weeks at such altitudes.
But the full squad is not expected to gather until late May, as players based in Europe are likely to join later depending on their respective club schedules.
Grouped with the Czech Republic, Mexico and South Africa, South Korea will face the European side in its opening group-stage match slated for June 11.
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