▲ Head coach Hong Myung-bo of the South Korean national football team, competing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, watches his players train at Chivas Valle Verde in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, on June 8 (local time).
The South Korean national football team, led by head coach Hong Myung-bo, focused on set-piece training with just two days remaining until their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The team held a training session on June 10 (Korea Standard Time) at Chivas Valle Verde in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico.
Typically, teams are required to hold a press conference and open their training session to the media on the day before a match.
Therefore, this was the final opportunity for the team to conduct an intensive, private training session.
Having opened their training sessions to the media for about 15 minutes over the previous two days, the squad kept their training ground completely closed to the public today.
This marks the first time the team has held a fully closed-door training session since arriving in Guadalajara.
A team official stated, "During the session, which lasted about an hour and a half starting at 11:00 a.m. local time, the players focused on attacking and defensive tactics, as well as set-piece drills."
During their two friendly matches against Trinidad and Tobago and El Salvador at the pre-tournament camp in Salt Lake City, Utah, the team utilized relatively basic attacking patterns during corner kicks and free kicks.
In many free-kick situations, they opted to aim directly for the opponent's goal.
Following the match against Trinidad and Tobago on June 4, coach Hong said, "We did not reveal our set-piece routines during the friendly matches. Once we arrive in Mexico, we plan to improve their precision through dedicated training."
Set-pieces are the most efficient tactical tool to overcome disadvantages in match momentum or individual skill.
In particular, because they involve rehearsed movements from a dead-ball situation to break down the opponent's defensive organization, they can serve as a solution when facing teams that prioritize defensive play.
Furthermore, as the Czech Republic is a team that employs "pragmatic football" with a focus on defense, preparation for set-pieces is essential for Hong's squad.
With 10 players standing over 190 cm (6'3") tall, the Czech Republic also uses set-pieces as a primary weapon, suggesting that the South Korean team likely also practiced "set-piece defense."
Before the main training session, the players warmed up with rondo (keep-away) drills, running, and jumping exercises.
The Group A opening match of the World Cup between South Korea and the Czech Republic will be held the day after tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. at the Guadalajara Stadium in Zapopan.
(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.