With South Korea’s first match of the North America World Cup just 20 days away, captain Son Heung-min of LAFC pointed to Mexico’s high-altitude conditions as one of the biggest variables in the group stage.
Son, who has been preparing for the tournament while playing in the United States, said he was somewhat surprised that South Korea would play in Mexico despite the World Cup being hosted across North America.
“I came to the U.S. because the World Cup is being held here, but I was a little caught off guard that we’ll be playing in Mexico,” Son said.
The South Korean captain said he plans to share his firsthand experience and match data from playing at altitude with his national team teammates as they prepare for the tournament.
Speaking at a press conference at the LAFC Liquid I.V. Training Center on May 22, Son referred to LAFC’s CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinal second-leg match against Deportivo Toluca FC on May 6 in Toluca, Mexico.
“Playing at high altitude was honestly not easy,” Son said.
Toluca, located about 42 miles from Mexico City, sits more than 8,700 feet above sea level. LAFC lost the match 4-0.
“When you play while wearing GPS and checking match data, you can clearly see from the data that playing at high altitude is much more difficult than playing under normal conditions,” Son said. “I think it will be more important to communicate with the players about what I experienced firsthand and discuss how we can prepare well.”
South Korea will play its group-stage matches on June 11 and June 18 in Guadalajara, Mexico, before heading to Monterrey for its June 24 match. Guadalajara is located about 5,138 feet above sea level, which could pose a challenge for South Korean players who are not used to competing at altitude. Monterrey, at about 2,427 feet above sea level, is considered relatively lower in elevation.
Son expressed confidence in his current fitness ahead of the World Cup.
“Thankfully, my condition and physical state are good, and I don’t have any injuries, so I don’t think there will be any major issues preparing for the World Cup,” Son said. “More than anything, I want to go there, perform well and enjoy it.”
Son is also on the verge of making history. With one more goal, he would become South Korea’s all-time leading scorer at the World Cup. However, his scoring pace with LAFC has recently slowed.
“Since I’ve scored a lot of goals, I think it’s natural that many people are interested in my goals and talk about them,” Son said.
Still, he emphasized that team success matters more than individual records.
“Football is not a sport you play alone,” Son said. “As we prepare for the World Cup, I’m thinking about how my teammates can perform better. The same applies to my club team.”
Addressing his recent lack of goals at LAFC, Son said he remains confident.
“I may not be scoring many goals right now, but I believe goals can come at any time,” he said. “The ability I have doesn’t just disappear overnight.”
Asked whether this could be his final World Cup, Son declined to give a definitive answer.
“I don’t know whether it will be my last,” he said.
Son also spoke clearly about what the World Cup means to him.
“When I think about the World Cup, I always feel like a child again,” he said. “For me, it has always been a dream.”
“Since I was young, I watched the World Cup and thought, ‘I want to become a player like that’ and ‘I want to stand on that stage,’” Son added. “That feeling is the same, no matter whether this is my fourth World Cup, third World Cup or any other number. It is the same feeling I had when I first dreamed of it.”
Son said he hopes the tournament will be more than just a competition for results. He wants it to become a celebration shared by players, fans and the country.
“The most important thing is for the people of South Korea and football fans to smile and enjoy it together,” Son said. “The World Cup is truly a festival. My goal is to help create a culture where people can enjoy that festival.”
