The South Korean national football team, led by head coach Hong Myung-bo, arrived at Salt Lake City International Airport in the United States on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. The squad has begun a specialized high-altitude training camp to prepare for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America.
The South Korean delegation, officially referred to as “Hong Myung-bo-ho,” landed in Utah on May 19 to initiate the final phase of their preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The team’s arrival marks the commencement of a strategic acclimatization period designed to help players adapt to high-altitude conditions before the tournament begins. The decision to establish this base in Salt Lake City underscores the coaching staff’s prioritization of physiological readiness, specifically focusing on the challenges posed by playing at elevated altitudes.
Squad Composition and Training Camp Logistics
The traveling party, which departed from Incheon International Airport on May 18, consists of 26 players and three additional training partners. The group currently in Salt Lake City includes a mix of domestic K-League talent and selected overseas players who finished their club seasons early.
The K-League contingent includes Lee Dong-gyeong and Jo Hyeon-woo from Ulsan; Song Bum-keun and Kim Jin-kyu from Jeonbuk; Kim Moon-hwan from Daejeon; and Lee Ki-hyuk from Gangwon. They are joined by overseas-based players who have already concluded their competitive schedules, including Bae Jun-ho of Stoke City, Eom Ji-sung of Swansea City, and Paik Seung-ho of Birmingham City. The coaching staff and support personnel are also present to oversee the training regimen, ensuring that individual performance metrics are monitored closely from the outset of the camp.
To bolster the intensity of the sessions, three training partners were selected to accompany the main roster: Yoon Ki-wook from Seoul, and Jeonbuk duo Jo Wi-je and Kang Sang-yoon. The inclusion of these partners is intended to maintain high-intensity internal scrimmages, allowing the coaching staff to test tactical variations even before the full squad roster is finalized.
Phased Arrival and Global Scheduling
While the core of the team has begun training in Utah, the full roster will not be complete until late May. The logistics of the arrival schedule are dictated by the conclusion of various European league seasons, which have overlapping calendars with the national team’s preparation window. Players currently competing in European leagues are expected to join the pre-tournament camp between May 24 and May 25.
A notable exception to this timeline is Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Lee Kang-in. Due to his involvement in the UEFA Champions League, Lee is scheduled to join the national team camp only after participating in the final match, which takes place on May 31, Korea Standard Time. The staff has accounted for this delay in their training program, emphasizing the need for flexibility as the roster integrates over the final two weeks of the month.
Preparation Strategy and Upcoming Schedule
The Salt Lake City camp serves as the primary base for South Korea’s high-altitude adaptation. During their stay in the United States, the team is scheduled to play two evaluation matches to test their tactical readiness and physical condition. These matches are viewed as essential opportunities for head coach Hong Myung-bo to assess the synergy between the domestic-based players already in camp and those arriving from abroad.
The physical training program is designed to be progressive. Staff members are overseeing specific aerobic and anaerobic drills that simulate the oxygen-depleted environment players will face during the tournament. By utilizing the Utah facilities, the team aims to mitigate the fatigue-related impacts of high-altitude competition before moving to the next stage of their journey.
Following the completion of the training block in Utah, the team is slated to depart for Mexico on June 5. This transition is a critical component of the coaching staff’s broader plan to ensure the squad is physically prepared for the demands of the 2026 FIFA World Cup environment. The focus remains on integrating the remaining European-based players as they arrive throughout the final week of May and ensuring that the high-altitude training provides a measurable benefit to player endurance and performance. The technical staff continues to refine the training load, balancing the need for intense physical conditioning with the requirement to keep the players fresh for the tournament’s opening fixtures.
