Son Heung-min, who tasted the '2130m Oxygen Hell' in advance, 'preventive injections' ahead of the WC Mexico match... I lost my speed because I was too high

*This content was translated by AI.

Son Heung-min (34, LAFC) received a high-altitude "preventive shot" before the 2026 FIFA 2026 FIFA North and Central America World Cup.

LAFC drew 1-1 in the second leg of the quarterfinals of the '2026 North American Caribbean Football Confederation (CONCACAF) Champions Cup' against Cruz Asul (Mexico) at Estadio Cuautemok in Puebola, Mexico, at 10 a.m. on the 15th (Korea time).

LAFC, which won 3-0 in the first round, advanced to the semifinals of the tournament for the first time in three years with a 4-1 aggregate score lead due to the draw.

Son Heung-min started as a front-line one-top striker in the 4-2-3-1 formation and played full season, but failed to score an offensive point. The shooting was all about one free kick on the defensive wall in the middle of the second half.

In the extra time of the second half, when the game was likely to end without much performance, Son Heung-min's "no-look pass" shone. Son Heung-min, who was dribbling through the penalty box, stabbed an exquisite penetration pass toward Jacob Schaeffelberg, who was rushing to the gate. When Schaeffelberg shot right away, the ball hit the opponent's defender's hand, and the referee declared PK.

Son Heung-min, who continued to catch the ball, was expected to kick PK. However, Son Heung-min conceded PK to Buanga, and Buanga shook the net with a shot that deceived the goalkeeper's direction.

The Estadio Cuautemok, where the game was held, is 2,130 meters above sea level. The trajectory of the ball is different from that of flat land due to its low oxygen consumption and low air resistance. Son Heung-min also had difficulty developing his offense, recording 24 ball touches on the day.

Even though he was sluggish, this high-altitude experience is meaningful and important data for Son Heung-min. This is because South Korea will play host Mexico in Group A of the 2026 FIFA North and Central America World Cup at Akron Stadium in Guadalajara, a highland.

Guadalajara is about 1570 meters above sea level. It is about 560 meters lower than Puebla (2130 meters) where Son Heung-min played. In other words, the captain of the national team played the full season for 90 minutes in advance at a higher altitude than the actual match of the World Cup and adapted to the environment in advance.

Son Heung-min, who did not have a clear performance because he did not receive pass support on the day, showed heavy overall movement, such as not showing explosive speed in counterattack situations, perhaps due to the influence of the highlands. Son Heung-min, a key player in the national team, is expected to be a major variable in the World Cup finals.

According to "Foot Mob," which specializes in soccer statistics, Son Heung-min recorded one shot, one opportunity creation, and a 77% success rate (10/13) on the day. Footmob gave Son Heung-min the lowest rating of 6.2 for both teams. The highest rating among LAFC players was goalkeeper Lloris (8.0).

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*This content was translated by AI.