Hong Myung-bo, head coach of the Korean males’s nationwide soccer crew, speaks to reporters at Incheon Worldwide Airport, Friday, after attending the 2026 FIFA World Cup attract Washington, D.C., and visiting base camp choices in Mexico. Yonhap
Korea head coach Hong Myung-bo stated Friday his crew might want to take “extra of a scientific method” when choosing their base camp for subsequent yr’s FIFA World Cup.
Hong returned house after attending the World Cup attract Washington final week after which testing base camp choices for the Taegeuk Warriors in Mexico, one in all three co-hosts alongside the USA and Canada.
Korea ended up in Group A with Mexico, South Africa and a European playoff winner to be decided in March. Korea will play all three group stage matches in Mexico — two close to Guadalajara and one close to Monterrey.
Hong advised reporters at Incheon Worldwide Airport, west of Seoul, that he had visited eight base camp websites.
“We targeted on components that we’ll want, and I favored a couple of locations,” Hong stated. “However I believe we might want to take extra of a scientific method. Local weather, adaptation to excessive altitude and touring distance have been a few of our most necessary concerns.”
Nationwide groups will submit a listing of their three most popular selections to FIFA in January. FIFA will then assign camps, taking into consideration proximity to groups’ group stage matches and particular crew requests. The ultimate choices are anticipated in March or April.
Whereas Hong’s crew will not must journey a lot — others should fly between the U.S. and Canada or the U.S. and Mexico — taking part in two matches within the excessive altitude of Guadalajara can current a novel problem. The western Mexican metropolis sits about 1,500 meters above sea degree.
“The largest key for us is how properly we will play at such an elevated place,” Hong stated. “There are execs and cons to attending to an elevated space early to coach. We are going to seek the advice of with specialists earlier than making our resolution.”
Pundits have stated Korea received drawn into a simple group, contemplating the FIFA rating positions of their opponents. Mexico are No. 15, seven spots forward of Korea, whereas South Africa examine in at No. 61. Denmark, favored to come back out of the European playoff group whose winner can be in Group A, are ranked twenty first.
Nonetheless, Hong stated he was significantly cautious of dealing with Mexico since they would be the house crew and their gamers are already accustomed to the environment.
“Residence groups could have a serious benefit. Again in 2002, nobody thought Korea would try this properly,” Hong stated, referring to Korea’s inconceivable march to the semifinals as a co-host 23 years in the past. He was captain of that squad.
“I believe we could have loads of difficulties taking part in a crew like Mexico,” Hong continued. “They’ve a extremely passionate fan base, and it will not be a simple match. We have now to maintain that in thoughts as we put together for the event.”
