▲ South Korean national football team head coach Hong Myung-bo answers questions during an official press conference held at Guadalajara Stadium in Mexico on the 17th (local time), one day before the match against Mexico in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
"I hope our players can surpass the record of reaching the semifinals in 2002."
Hong Myung-bo, head coach of the South Korean national football team, expressed strong confidence ahead of the team's second match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup against Mexico.
During a press conference held at Guadalajara Stadium in Zapopan, Mexico, on the 18th (Korea Standard Time), one day before the Group A second-round match of the World Cup, Coach Hong said, "In our first match against the Czech Republic, the players never gave up until the end, fulfilled their roles, and secured a victory. The players have strong confidence. I hope that will be well reflected on the pitch tomorrow."
He added, "We reached the semifinals in 2002 (at the Korea-Japan World Cup). I hope our players can go beyond that record," and noted, "The starting 11 has already been decided. All of our players are in good condition."
South Korea secured a thrilling 2-1 comeback victory in their first match against the Czech Republic.
However, Mexico is a different team from the Czech Republic.
They are faster, more technical, and more organized.
There is also a significant gap in the FIFA rankings, with Mexico at 12th and the Czech Republic at 44th.
South Korea is currently ranked 22nd.
Coach Hong stated, "Mexico is different from the Czech Republic in every aspect, including their playing style. We have shared those details sufficiently with the players this week," adding, "The opponent will clearly come out very strongly, and we must be well-prepared for that."
South Korea previously played a friendly match against Mexico in the United States last September, before the group draw.
The match ended in a 2-2 draw, with Son Heung-min (LAFC) and Oh Hyeon-gyu (Beşiktaş) scoring goals.
Coach Hong said, "I believe (the friendly match last September) will be a great help to us. We gained something from that match."
As Mexico is the host nation, South Korea must also contend with the passionate support of Mexican fans.
Coach Hong remarked, "The players are aware of the various advantages of the home team. Our players have played in front of large crowds many times. It is important to determine at what point we can take control and find the rhythm of the game."
He also expressed his gratitude to the Mexican fans who cheered for South Korea during the first match against the Czech Republic.
Regarding the importance of 'Iron Pillar' Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich), who must stop the Mexican attack, Coach Hong emphasized, "In defense, while an individual's ability is important, organizational aspects are crucial," adding, "The opposing strikers move behind the defense in an instant. We might miss them for a split second. In those moments, defensive organization and chemistry between players are vital."
With the number of participating countries increased to 48 for this tournament, the preparation time between matches has lengthened to about a week.
Coach Hong said, "(One week) was plenty of time for the players to recover and prepare for the match," but added, "A game always involves relativity with the opponent. Everything doesn't always go as planned, so it is very important how well we can control the variables while playing."
The Group A second-round match of the World Cup between South Korea and Mexico will kick off tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. at Guadalajara Stadium.
(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.