'We'll handle the heat better than South Africa'

First session in Monterrey held behind closed doors

South Korea head coach Hong Myung-bo oversees a training session at Chivas Valle Verde in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, on June 18. [Yonhap]
South Korea head coach Hong Myung-bo oversees a training session at Chivas Valle Verde in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, on June 18. [Yonhap]

South Korea's national football team trained normally Tuesday despite feels-like temperatures approaching 40 degrees Celsius as the squad prepared for its final 2026 World Cup group-stage match against South Africa.

The team, led by head coach Hong Myung-bo, held a training session at Estadio Universitario in San Nicolas, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, on Tuesday ahead of the South Africa fixture.

South Korea arrived in Monterrey the previous day for its Group A finale against South Africa, scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday at Estadio BBVA in Guadalupe, Nuevo Leon. Sitting second in Group A with three points after one win and one loss, South Korea can secure a round-of-32 berth on its own terms with any positive result.

The first training session since arriving in Monterrey was held entirely behind closed doors. A team official said the players focused mainly on tactical work following basic recovery exercises and also ran through set-piece routines.

Having based themselves in Guadalajara for the first two group matches, the squad relocated to a different host city for the first time since the tournament began.

Heat emerged as a key variable in Monterrey. The city, notorious even within Mexico for its sweltering summers, recorded a high of 35 C on Tuesday, with strong sunshine and high humidity pushing the feels-like temperature to around 40 C.

In Guadalajara, temperatures dropped enough after sunset to require a jacket, but Monterrey stays muggy well into the night.

"The squad did struggle somewhat in the extreme heat, but it didn't affect them significantly and everyone completed training without any issues," the team official said.

In preparation for Monterrey's heat, the players had already acclimatized during their pre-tournament camp in Salt Lake City, Utah, where they soaked in 40-degree water immediately after sessions to condition themselves for hot and humid conditions.

"Compared to a Korean midsummer, it's not that extreme," the official said. "We'll handle the heat better than South Africa."


yjc@heraldcorp.com