Hundreds of local Mexican fans visited the first training session of Hong Myung-bo's South Korea squad, sending up loud cheers to welcome the team to Guadalajara. As Mexico is competing in the same Group A as South Korea in the group stage, local media also showed great interest in the training. While local temperatures are not as high as expected, rain is forecast for the first match against the Czech Republic, requiring preparation for a wet pitch.
Chivas Valle Verde in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, where the South Korean national football team held its first training session in Mexico on Friday, was crowded with about 800 fans who visited the site in person.
Korean expatriates were sparse, with most of the fans at the training ground being locals. Holding the South Korean national flag, fans cheered at every movement of the players. In particular, many fans chanted the name of world-class striker Son Heung-min (LAFC). Son also raised his hand in response. As the host nation of this World Cup, Mexico has been placed in Group A alongside South Korea for the group stage, which appears to have heightened local interest.
Local Mexican media also competed to cover the event, repeatedly capturing the training scenes on camera. Local reporters also flocked in large numbers to fill the venue at the official press conference held by head coach Hong Myung-bo ahead of the open training. Jose Maria Garadio, a Guadalajara-based correspondent for the U.S. sports channel Fox Deportes, said, "Local media interest is very high because South Korea is a difficult group-stage rival for Mexico and possesses a strength that cannot be taken lightly," adding, "About 20 of my fellow reporters applied for coverage and attended."
Meanwhile, the fickle weather in the Guadalajara region has emerged as a variable. As the area entered the full rainy season starting in June, sudden showers accompanied by thunder and lightning have become more frequent. Thanks to the high altitude of over 1,500 meters above sea level, cool temperatures have continued, easing concerns about extreme heat, but showers have newly emerged as a surprise factor. On the day of the Czech Republic match, strong thunderstorms are forecast starting at 6 p.m., two hours before the match begins at 8 p.m. Hong said, "We keep checking the weather," adding, "There are rain forecasts almost every afternoon, and it rained very heavily last evening as well."
