South Korea's national football team trains at their base camp in Guadalajara, Mexico. [Yonhap]
South Korea's national football team trains at their base camp in Guadalajara, Mexico. [Yonhap]

South Korea's national football team, having failed to secure a Round of 32 berth on their own at the 2026 North America World Cup, is now in a waiting game at their base camp. After completing their group stage finale, the squad began recovery training and is expected to regroup quickly as they await word on whether they advance.

Still stinging from a shock defeat to South Africa, the team held a recovery session Friday at the Chivas Verde Valle training facility in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico.

The players had traveled by charter flight late the previous night after the match. They took to the pitch for light jogging before splitting into recovery and training groups.

The loss to South Africa left South Korea third in Group A with three points. Their fate in the tournament remains unresolved, hinging on the outcomes of remaining group stage matches. Advancing to the Round of 32 is considered likely — with odds estimated at roughly 70 to 80 percent — but nothing is guaranteed.

Widely criticized for what many called the worst performance in the team's history, the squad entered recovery training in a subdued mood after failing to clinch a spot on their own.

During the roughly 30 minutes open to media, players worked separately on recovery exercises indoors — including cycling — or ran passing drills and ball-circulation exercises on the pitch. Most walked onto the field with heads down and tight expressions, though they gradually showed signs of life as their bodies loosened up.

If South Korea advance to the Round of 32, they would face Group E winner Germany in Boston on June 30, or play the yet-to-be-determined Group G winner in Seattle on July 2. Potential Group G opponents include Egypt, Iran and Belgium.

Head coach Hong Myung-bo, speaking to reporters at the training ground Friday, said he was not sure whether the team would play another match but that the squad needed to spend the next few days focused on preparation.

Hong said the players would likely still be fatigued mentally and physically through Saturday. "Today and tomorrow, both the players and I will recover and prepare for what comes next," he said.


balme@heraldcorp.com