South Korea National Football Team in Scandal Over High-Altitude Preparation for 2026 World Cup
Mexican media mocked what they saw as an excessive preoccupation of the Koreans with Guadalajara's altitude instead of analyzing opponents' play. Coach Hong Myung-bo organized a training camp in Salt Lake City to adapt to the conditions of Group A matches.
Main Event
The South Korea national football team found itself at the center of an international scandal three weeks before the start of the 2026 World Cup. The reason was an unusual preparation plan that Mexican media dubbed an "excessive obsession with altitude." Head coach Hong Myung-bo organized a training camp in Salt Lake City, USA, to adapt players to the conditions of Guadalajara, where two of the three Group A matches will be played.
The newspaper El Imparcial came out on May 20 with a sarcastic headline: "Is altitude scarier than Mexico?" The publication accused the Korean staff of being more concerned with geographical and climatic factors than with analyzing opponents' play. Coach Hong Myung-bo, however, remained adamant: "What matters is how well we control these situations and respond to them."
Details and Statistics
The South Korea national team departed for Salt Lake City (Utah, USA) on May 18. The city is located at an altitude of approximately 1,300–1,460 meters above sea level, comparable to Guadalajara (about 1,500 meters). The choice of location was not accidental — the Korea Football Association (KFA) also considered similar climatic conditions: temperature, humidity, and even the same time zone difference.
The training group included 12 players: nine main footballers and three reserves as "training partners." The main players represent six clubs from the Korean K-League — Lee Dong-gyeong and Jo Hyeon-woo from Ulsan Hyundai, Kim Jin-gyu and Song Bum-keun from Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, Kim Moon-hwan from Daejeon Hana Citizen, and Lee Gi-hyeok from Gangwon. They were joined by three representatives from the English Championship: Paik Seung-ho (Birmingham City), Um Ji-sung (Swansea City), and Bae Jun-ho (Stoke City).
The team's main stars — Son Heung-min (Los Angeles), Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain), and Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich) — will join later after the end of the club season.
The Mexican press operates with specific statistics: South Korea has not beaten Mexico since 2006. In the last five matches, the Koreans suffered four defeats and one draw. Moreover, El Imparcial emphasizes that Guadalajara is not the hosts' main altitude advantage: the remaining group stage matches Mexico will play at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, located at an altitude of over 2,200 meters.
Coach Hong Myung-bo acknowledged at a press conference that altitude adaptation is critically important. He cited the experience of Son Heung-min, who experienced "prolonged exhaustion" after matches against Mexican clubs. The preparation plan includes two to three days of monitoring the players' physical condition, after which training intensity will gradually increase.
Context and Significance
The 2026 World Cup starts on June 11 and will be the first in history with 48 participants. The South Korea national team is in Group A alongside Mexico, Czech Republic, and South Africa. The team will play its first two matches at the Akron Stadium in Guadalajara: on June 12 against the Czech Republic and on June 19 against Mexico. The third match will take place on June 25 in Monterrey against South Africa.
For South Koreans, this tournament is their eleventh consecutive World Cup. The team has a legendary semifinal in 2002 and a round of 16 appearance in 2010.
The Mexican reaction to the Korean training plan reflects a broader context: the tournament hosts perceive the match against the Asian team as key in the fight to advance from the group. Head-to-head statistics give Mexicans a psychological advantage, but they view Hong Myung-bo's unconventional approach as a sign of the opponent's lack of confidence.
Special attention deserves the position of legendary Park Ji-sung. The former Manchester United midfielder called Group A "the most favorable in World Cup history for South Korea" and expressed confidence in the team's advancement from the group. He emphasized that the opening match against the Czech Republic will be decisive: earning points in the first game will create a favorable tournament situation.
What's Next
The schedule of upcoming events for the South Korea national team is as follows:
- May 18–20: Start of training in Salt Lake City, altitude adaptation
- May 31: Friendly match against Trinidad and Tobago (102nd in FIFA ranking)
- June 4: Friendly match against El Salvador (100th place)
- June 5: Move to base camp in Guadalajara, where the team will use the training base of the Mexican club Guadalajara Chivas Verde Valle
- June 12: First group stage match against the Czech Republic (Akron Stadium, Guadalajara)
- June 19: Second match against Mexico (Akron Stadium, Guadalajara)
- June 25: Third match against South Africa (BBVA Stadium, Monterrey)
Editorial Forecast
The outcome of the scandal and preparation may become clear as early as the first round. The key factor is whether Son Heung-min can overcome his playing slump. The team captain, who moved from Tottenham to Los Angeles, scored only twice for the club last season and played in a deeper position than for the national team. Hong Myung-bo has promised to find a more effective role for the 33-year-old forward on the field. The match against the Czech Republic will largely determine tournament prospects: a win will allow the Koreans to play against Mexico with a safety margin, while a loss will put the team on the brink of elimination. Altitude adaptation is certainly important but not decisive; the outcome of matches will be determined by tactics and finishing.
— Editorial Team
