Hong Myung-bo's Squad Prepares for South Africa Match Amid Scorching 40°C Heat

With the final Group A match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup against South Africa approaching, the squad led by Hong Myung-bo has accelerated its preparations, undeterred by "cauldron-like" heat that pushed the feels-like temperature to nearly 40°C (104°F).

The national football team, managed by Hong Myung-bo, held a training session today (June 23) at Estadio Universitario in San Nicolás, Nuevo León, Mexico, to prepare for the match against South Africa.

The team arrived at the match site yesterday to gear up for the final Group A match, which is scheduled to take place at Monterrey Stadium in Guadalupe, Nuevo León, on the 25th at 10:00 a.m.

Currently sitting in second place in Group A with one win and one loss (3 points), South Korea can secure a spot in the Round of 32 on its own by earning points in this match.

The first training session since arriving in Monterrey was held entirely behind closed doors.

A team official stated, "After basic recovery exercises, the players focused on tactical training and also worked on set-piece drills."

Having based themselves in Guadalajara, Mexico, for the first and second group stage matches, Hong Myung-bo's squad is adapting to a new host city for the first time since the tournament began.

In Monterrey, the heat has emerged as a key variable.

Known for its notorious heat even within Mexico, Monterrey saw temperatures climb to 35°C (95°F) today, with strong sunlight and high humidity pushing the feels-like temperature to 40°C (104°F).

While the Guadalajara region, where the team had been based, would cool down enough at night to require a jacket, Monterrey remains humid with muggy winds even after sunset.

A team official noted, "The squad faced some difficulties due to the extreme heat, but they carried out the training without major issues. All players completed the session normally without any problems."

Hong Myung-bo's squad is scheduled to wrap up its preparations for the South Africa match tomorrow with an official training session and a press conference, one day before the game.

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.