Despite doubts, Korea hoping for good start

South Korea head coach Hong Myung-bo watches his players train at Chivas Valle Verde near Guadalajara, Mexico, June 8, as the team prepares for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Yonhap

With all that is going on these days, most of the 48 nations competing at the World Cup could do with some good news. On Friday at lunchtime, Korea’s soccer team has the chance to help millions of meals back home go down smoothly. The Taegeuk Warriors take on the Czech Republic in Group A, which also contains co-host Mexico and South Africa.

A win would put coach Hong Myung-bo and his men in sight of the knockout stages for only the fourth time, after reaching it in 2002, 2010 and 2022. Defeat — well, it is best not to think about that.

Preparations seem to have been as good as they could be. The team arrived in the United States three weeks ago before moving to Mexico. Guadalajara sits at around 1,600 meters above sea level, and the thinner air with its relative lack of oxygen can be an issue for players, especially late in games as they start to tire. Korea has been training at that height for three weeks, and it should no longer be a problem.

At No. 25, Korea is ranked 16 places above their opponent. The Czechs actually lost to the Faroe Islands in qualification, but squeezed in through the playoffs in March, beating Ireland and then Denmark on penalties.

The late qualification meant that FIFA selected the team’s training camp — a location only 180 meters above sea level — and thus the Czech players were not able to acclimatize in the same way. They will arrive for the match as late as possible in the hope that there is no time for acute symptoms to take effect.

“It won’t be ideal,” Czech coach Miroslav Koubek said. “We would have to spend a month in the environment to get adapted to it, but there’s no time for that. We have recommendations from experts on how to cope with that, but we can’t cope with that for 100 percent, that’s for sure.”

It is an advantage for Korea, but Hong is taking nothing for granted and is expecting a physical battle.

"They have very distinct characteristics, and they will not be easy to handle," he said. "We have to be prepared, especially against their set pieces and crosses. We have to overcome our height disadvantage."

Fans hope that this is an opening game reminiscent of 2002, 2006 and 2010, when Korea faced beatable teams — Poland, Togo and Greece — and beat them accordingly. But then the same could be said of 2014, 2018 and 2022, when the team failed to beat Russia, Sweden and Uruguay.

In truth, this is one of the easier fixtures, but first games can be tricky. Both teams are usually nervous and often scared of losing. There are questions, of course, about the coach, his formation and his tactics. Does Hong know his best team and the best way to play?

Son Heung-min is not quite the lethal attacking force of a few years ago, but has played at a higher level for longer than anyone on the field. Lee Kang-in has talent that any coach would love, and then there is Bayern Munich defender Kim Min-jae. In terms of star power, Korea outshines the European team.

It remains to be seen if that is enough, but right now, Korea has a great chance to get three points early before a tough test next week against co-host Mexico.