After battling Guadalajara’s thin air, Korea heads into a sweltering World Cup clash with South Africa in Monterrey, where heat, humidity and tactical changes could shape the result.
Korean footballers Song Bum-keun, Paik Seung-ho and Bae Jun-ho train for heat in hot water after their field training in Salt Lake City, Utah, in June.KOREA FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION
MONTERREY, Mexico — In Guadalajara, Korea’s Taeguk Warriors fought for breath. In Monterrey, they may fight the heat.
The city, known for its punishing heat and humidity, offers a different test entirely from the high altitude and thin air of Mexico's Guadalajara, where Korea spent their first two group stage matches of the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Monterrey, about an hour by plane and 650 kilometers (403 miles) northeast of Guadalajara, sits at just 500 meters (1,640 feet) above sea level — roughly 1,000 meters lower.
Situated in a basin, Monterrey’s summer temperatures can soar as high as 41 degrees Celsius (105.8 degrees Fahrenheit), and the city ranks as the second-hottest World Cup venue across North America, according to The Athletic.
When Korea faces South Africa on Wednesday evening for their third Group A match, temperatures are expected to reach 34 to 35 degrees Celsius.
Beyond the heat, humidity in the region reaches 83 percent, driving the apparent temperature far above the thermometer reading, hampering the body's ability to cool itself.
Monterrey Stadium in MexicoYONHAP
"Monterrey's challenge is not just the heat but also the humidity, which can make breathing difficult even for ordinary people, as if they were running while wearing a mask," said a local resident who asked not to be named.
Having played their first two matches in Guadalajara's thin air, the Korean players are likely to feel as though they have left the mountains behind.
Despite the heat, there is reason for optimism.
The Taeguk Warriors prepared for extreme temperatures by immersing themselves in 40-degree Celsius water after their training sessions in Salt Lake City, Utah.
The hot, humid conditions are also more similar to midsummer weather in Korea than South Africa’s climate.
BBVA Stadium, Monterrey, MexicoREUTERS/YONHAP
An eye-catching marvel structure reminiscent of Seoul’s Dongdaemun Design Plaza appeared upon entering Guadalupe after an hour-long drive from Monterrey International Airport. Guadalupe is a part of the greater Monterrey region.
The structure was Monterrey Stadium, which stands against the backdrop of Mount Cerro de la Silla.
The stadium is home to C.F. Monterrey throughout the Liga MX season. Its official name is Estadio BBVA, named after its Spanish banking sponsor. Yet FIFA’s strict sponsorship rule prohibited the use of such naming during the World Cup tournament.
Nicknamed "The Steel Giant" for its armor-like aluminum exterior, the stadium features an asymmetrical curved design inspired by the distillation equipment used in Monterrey's famous breweries.
The stadium, considered among the most advanced in Latin America, seats about 53,000 people. Its 55-meter cantilevered roof shades spectator seats, and gill-shaped openings are designed to improve airflow and ventilation.
“Monterrey means ‘Mount King’ in Spanish,” said Jeong Byeong-hoon, a Korean resident who operates a business in Monterrey. “It reminds me of Ulsan, where mountainous terrain and industrial complexes coexist. There are about 2,500 to 3,000 Korean expatriates and residents here, and many of them will come to the stadium to support the Taeguk Warriors.”
Son Heung-min arrives in Monterrey, Mexico on June 21.NEWS1
Korea’s next opponent for Wednesday’s match will fight without key midfielders. Themba Zwane and Teboho Mokoena will be benched during the upcoming match against Korea due to their accumulated yellow cards and a red card.
Apart from Burnley striker Lyle Foster, the squad lacks players with experience in Europe’s top leagues. The challenge has only grown tougher with key absences further depleting the team.
South Africa currently sit at the bottom of Group A with one draw and one loss.
Against Mexico, South Africa conceded the opening goal after losing possession under high pressure on June 11. Against the Czech Republic, they fell behind after being caught out by attacks into the space behind their fullbacks on June 18.
South African players celebrate after the World Cup Group A match between the Czech Republic and South Africa in Atlanta on June 18.AP/YONHAP
In both matches, the Bafana Bafana conceded within the opening 10 minutes.
The two matches exposed the same weaknesses: frequent defensive errors and vulnerability to attacks targeting the space behind the fullbacks. With an average height of 1.79 meters, the team is not particularly strong in aerial duels either.
Korea’s head coach Hong Myung-bo is reportedly mulling over tactical changes. One option is deploying hard-running forward Oh Hyeon-gyu as the central striker while moving forward Son Heung-min to the left flank.
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
