South Korea coach says team is ready, hints at game plan for Friday's match against Czech Republic

South Korea head coach Hong Myung-bo speaks at the official pre-match press conference at Guadalajara Stadium in Zapopan, Mexico, on Wednesday, a day before the team's opening match against the Czech Republic at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. [Yonhap]
South Korea head coach Hong Myung-bo speaks at the official pre-match press conference at Guadalajara Stadium in Zapopan, Mexico, on Wednesday, a day before the team's opening match against the Czech Republic at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. [Yonhap]

South Korea head coach Hong Myung-bo expressed strong satisfaction with the team's altitude acclimatization ahead of the country's opening match at the 2026 North America World Cup.

Speaking at a press conference at Guadalajara Stadium in Zapopan, Mexico, on Thursday — one day before South Korea's Group A opener against the Czech Republic — Hong said he was "very satisfied" with the results of the team's high-altitude training and the players' current physical condition.

The squad set up a pre-tournament camp in Salt Lake City, Utah, to prepare for the high-altitude conditions in Guadalajara, which sits approximately 1,570 meters above sea level.

"Overall, we have adapted perfectly to the altitude," Hong said. "I don't know what results that will bring, but I believe the players carry a sense of relief and confidence knowing they've adjusted."

Asked about returning to the World Cup for the first time since the 2014 Brazil tournament, Hong called it "a great honor." "We failed in 2014, but I believe we have prepared well for this World Cup based on the many experiences we've accumulated since then," he said. "I can't predict the outcome, but I've created an environment where the players can play with excitement, enjoyment and energy."

South Korea faces the Czech Republic on Friday morning at the same stadium. When asked about the team's readiness, Hong offered a measured show of confidence. "The most important thing is how much our players can deliver in the first match," he said. "When I look at things internally, I assess it very positively."

Hong noted that Friday's match carries added significance. "The Czech Republic game is not only our first match of the tournament — it will be the first time our country has played on the opening day of a World Cup," he said. "The eyes of the world will be on us. I hope the players can approach it with a relaxed mind." He also hinted at a prepared strategy. "I can't reveal it, but we have our own plan going into Friday's match," he said.

Responding to a foreign reporter's question about second-round opponents Mexico, Hong acknowledged the host nation's home advantage. "We experienced that ourselves back in 2002," he said, referring to the Korea-Japan World Cup. "I think Mexico will have an even greater advantage than we did." He added that the team's full focus remains on Friday's opener. "We'll pour everything into the Czech Republic match first, and then prepare for Mexico," he said.


yjc@heraldcorp.com