World Cup 2026: South Korea national team holds closed-door training

According to the Korea Football Association (KFA), the training session on June 10 took place without media presence, and no players were arranged for interviews. This move indicates that the coaching staff wants the players to concentrate entirely on the opening match while keeping key tactical plans confidential. Coach Hong Myung Bo directly led the approximately 90-minute session at the Chivas Verde Valle training center in Zapopan, near Guadalajara. The training focused on set pieces, transition play, and attacking and defensive schemes tailored for the Czech Republic.

Security around the South Korean team's camp has also been tightened. The training facility is guarded by armed police and military personnel to ensure absolute safety for the entire team during their stay in Mexico. According to FIFA regulations, each team is allowed one fully closed training day before the tournament begins. On other days, the press is usually allowed access for the first 15 minutes of training, and players can take part in media activities.

South Korea will kick off their 2026 World Cup campaign with a match against the Czech Republic at Guadalajara Stadium on the evening of June 11 (local time). Before the game, Coach Hong Myung Bo and a representative player will attend the official press conference, and the entire team will have a pitch familiarization session before final preparations. One issue the coaching staff is particularly focused on is the effectiveness of set pieces. In two friendlies against Trinidad & Tobago and El Salvador in the US, the "Land of Kimchi" side did not make a strong impression from dead-ball situations.

After the match against El Salvador, Coach Hong Myung Bo acknowledged that he intentionally held back full tactical combinations in the friendlies and reserved the most critical elements for the World Cup. Along with improving goal-scoring from set pieces, South Korea must also find a solution to defending against aerial threats from the Czech Republic. The European side features many players over 1.90m tall and is regarded as especially dangerous in aerial duels. Given the significant physical disparity, set pieces are likely to become a decisive factor in the outcome of South Korea's opening match at the 2026 World Cup.