South Korea ramps up training ahead of crucial Mexico clash at 2026 World Cup

South Korea's national football team, buoyed by a victory over the Czech Republic in their opening match of the 2026 North America World Cup, has shifted into full training mode as they prepare for their Group A second match against co-host Mexico.

The squad, led by head coach Hong Myung-bo, trained for about an hour Monday at the Chivas Valle Verde training ground in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico (all times Korean Standard Time).

Players worked through a light drizzle as they began to rebuild their sharpness, starting with a warm-up before moving through obstacle runs, forward-and-back sprints and jumps, then finishing with passing drills and a shooting game.

After their Group A opener against the Czech Republic on Thursday, the team held a light recovery session the following day before taking Saturday off entirely — spending the rest day with family members who had traveled to Guadalajara with support from the Korea Football Association.

Defenders Kim Tae-hyun (Kashima Antlers) and Bae Jun-ho (Stoke City), both recovering from injuries, worked on stationary bikes to maintain their fitness. Both are progressing well, and the goal is to have them ready to feature as early as the second match, according to team sources.

The match against co-host Mexico at Guadalajara Stadium on Friday will in effect determine the Group A top spot and could shape South Korea's bracket in the round of 32.

The coaching staff is providing players with position-specific video analysis of Mexico to sharpen tactical execution beyond what was shown against the Czech Republic.

The footage is designed to help players move instinctively to the right positions during in-game tactical shifts — whether transitioning from a three-back to a four-back, or dropping into a five-back setup.

Hong's side showed some organizational uncertainty early in the tournament as they adjusted to the three-back system introduced ahead of the competition. Cohesion has been steadily improving, though, as the players log more time together and gain competitive experience.

A team official said Oh Hyeon-gyu's (Besiktas) winning goal against the Czech Republic was the product of a rehearsed combination — "almost like a no-look pass." "That kind of play was hard to pull off in friendlies, but as training has accumulated going into the tournament, those rehearsed moves are coming together more and more," the official said.

KBS analyst Park Chan-ha told Yonhap News Agency that the Mexico match "will clearly be the toughest in Group A, so thorough preparation is essential."

Park identified Mexico's right-side attack, led by Roberto Alvarado and Brian Gutierrez, as the area South Korea must guard most carefully. "If our left-side defense is shaken, the whole team can be shaken," he said. "If we maintain defensive organization and shut down their right side, we can make it a competitive match."

Kim Hak-bum, the former South Korea Olympic team head coach who watched Mexico's opening win over South Africa, also weighed in. "All of their attacking players are technically gifted," he said. "For us, it's important not to sit back — we need to press them hard, make it as difficult as possible for those technically strong players to receive the ball and play their game."