The South Korean national football team, led by head coach Hong Myung-bo, has established its base camp in Guadalajara, Mexico, and entered battle mode ahead of its opening match in the 2026 North and Central American World Cup group stage.
The first thing on fans' minds is not the team's performance but security. Guadalajara, Mexico's second-largest city and the capital of the western state of Jalisco, is a familiar name to tourists as the birthplace of tequila. But behind that image lies the heavy shadow of drug cartels. The city is the heartland of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), considered the largest criminal organization not only in Mexico but across Latin America.
What fueled the anxiety was an incident this February. When Mexican federal forces killed CJNG leader Nemesio Oseguera, known as "El Mencho," a succession struggle erupted within the organization, and the fallout left parts of Jalisco state engulfed in bloodshed and chaos for a time.
But Zapopan, where the national team has set up its nest, is a neighborhood of a different character even within the same metropolitan area. The team's accommodation, the Westin Guadalajara hotel, is located across from "Expo Guadalajara," the largest convention center in western Mexico. Zapopan is one of the area's leading emerging affluent districts and commercial hubs.
As global companies flocked to Guadalajara, known as "Mexico's Silicon Valley," high-end residential complexes and commercial facilities concentrated in this area, resulting in the pleasant and prosperous streets seen today.
Large shopping malls and upscale restaurant districts line the wide, well-maintained tree-lined avenues, and the streets are both refined and lively. Contrary to concerns, the area is brightly lit even at night and the atmosphere is calm, making it a fitting "fortress" where players can focus solely on their matches without being shaken by outside dangers or noise.
The logistics also earn a passing grade. It is a 30-minute drive from the airport, and just over 20 minutes to Akron Stadium, where the team's first and second group-stage matches will be held. It is an optimal location to ease the players' fatigue.
Having dropped anchor at a comfortable home base, Hong's team now concentrates all its focus on one thing: the first group-stage match, and the drive toward victory.
Meanwhile, in an interview published on the website of the International Football Federation (FIFA) on Friday, head coach Hong Myung-bo cited "fighting spirit" as the team's greatest strength, emphasizing, "I hope the players don't fear the World Cup but instead see it as a stage to be enjoyed."
Hong, who made his debut at age 21 at the 1990 Italy tournament and is heading to his seventh World Cup overall as a player and coach, said, "The World Cup is the dream itself for every footballer."
As captain at the 2002 Korea-Japan tournament, he recalled the team's run to the semifinals, saying, "We were able to bring joy to a public worn down by the financial crisis," while also drawing a line, insisting that the glory should not become a burden for the younger players.
Of captain Son Heung-min, Hong said, "Now that he is a veteran, he knows better than anyone what is needed at each stage," and added, "As a coach, I want to ease that burden even a little." He stressed, "Since a large number of the players compete on the European stage, the fear of the world has disappeared," adding, "If we build confidence and trust, we can become a strong team that stands tall against the best, rather than a team that occasionally pulls off upsets."
