MONTEREY, Mexico (AP) — Hong Myung-bo hopes the atmosphere will feel like a home game the next time his South Korean team plays South Africa. world cup Group A will be played in Monterrey.
Many Mexican fans cheered on the Taegeuk Warriors. 2-1 victory over Czech Republic Head coach Hong is hoping for similar support Wednesday for the season opener in Guadalajara.
“Tomorrow it may feel like this is home ground. That’s a huge gift for the players,” he said. HongWhen he co-hosted the 2002 World Cup with Japan, he was the captain of the South Korean team that advanced to the semifinals. “I want to use that to my advantage and have a good match tomorrow.”
There are strong reasons to support it.
In 2018, when South Korea defeated Germany 2-0 to advance Mexico to the round of 16, Mexican fans famously celebrated by marching to the South Korean consulate in Monterrey, chanting “Correano, hermano, ya eres Mexicano (Korean brothers, you’re Mexican now)!”
Since then, soccer fans in both countries developed a bond Despite the differences in soccer culture.
“Mexican fans have so much energy, more energy than us,” said Lee Ha-young, a fan from Seoul, South Korea. “We have the same energy in our hearts, but it’s really difficult to express it, because in Korean culture it’s not easy to express our emotions.”
In addition to travel enthusiasts, Monterrey is home to an estimated 5,000 Korean immigrants. Most of them live in an area known as Pesqueria, just east of Monterrey National Airport.
The establishment of KIA Motors’ factories and other businesses in the region attracted many Koreans and strengthened ties between the two countries.
With South Korea entering Group A, the Daegu Warriors will have all group stage matches played in Mexico, which is co-hosting the tournament with the United States and Canada.
“A lot of Korean fans really wanted to see (Korea) play in the United States because ( son heung min “But the Mexican people have treated us very warmly, so I think tomorrow we will feel like home here in Monterrey,” Lee said.
rear Lost 1-0 to Mexico in Guadalajara.South Korea is in second place in the group with three points. South Africa and the Czech Republic each received one point. 1-1 draw.
South Korea can advance to the finals with a win or a draw, but South Africa need a win to ensure they avoid elimination.
If the group results in second place, the Korean team will face the second place team from Group B in the Round of 32 in Los Angeles. Los Angeles would also be a comfortable destination for the team. The city is home to more than 300,000 Korean Americans.
But for now, Mexico is welcoming Korean fans with open arms.
“I might have to go to the United States,” Lee said for the round of 32. “But I don’t want to leave here. I want to stay here in Mexico.”
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Maya Calder Ramirez and Ethan Wilcox are students at the University of Georgia’s Carmical Sports Media Institute.
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AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/fifa-world-cup
