[Official] Hong Myung-bo's World Cup squad finalizes two final pre-tournament matches, set to face 102nd-ranked Trinidad and Tobago and 100th-ranked El Salvador

*This content was translated by AI.

Ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, the Hong Myung-bo squad will play two final pre-tournament friendlies against Trinidad and Tobago, ranked 102nd, and El Salvador, ranked 100th, in the FIFA rankings.

The Korea Football Association announced on the 12th that the two final pre-tournament matches for the South Korean national team will be held at BYU South Field in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, with the first match against Trinidad and Tobago on the 31st at 10 a.m. (Korean time) and the second against El Salvador on the 4th of next month at 10 a.m.

Previously, the El Salvador Football Association had announced that the friendly against El Salvador would be Korea's final pre-World Cup match, but with today's announcement by the Korea Football Association, the full schedule and matchups for the two-match pre-World Cup series, including Trinidad and Tobago, have been finalized.

Both teams are considered "weaker opponents" with FIFA rankings in the 100s, more than 75 spots below South Korea (25th). In past head-to-head meetings, both Trinidad and Tobago and El Salvador have each played one friendly in Korea. They drew 1-1 against South Korea in 2004 and 2023, respectively.

Both Trinidad and Tobago and El Salvador are members of the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF). However, both teams failed to qualify for the World Cup finals. Trinidad and Tobago was eliminated in third place in CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying Group B, behind Curaçao and Jamaica, while El Salvador finished last in Group A.

The Korea Football Association stated, "Although both Trinidad and Tobago and El Salvador failed to qualify for the World Cup finals, we determined they are teams capable of competing in the friendlies with their best possible condition in their home region, and thus proceeded with the matchups." The association added, "Ahead of the decisive stage in Mexico, we plan to use these two pre-tournament matches to adapt to high-altitude conditions and improve tactical execution."

Meanwhile, Hong Myung-bo, head coach of the South Korean national team, will announce the final 26-man World Cup roster at 4 p.m. on the 16th at Gwanghwamun, Jongno-gu, Seoul. Following this, the main squad, including Coach Hong, will depart for the U.S., the pre-camp location, via Incheon International Airport on the 18th, without a domestic departure ceremony. Foreign-based players are expected to join the team in the U.S. after completing their club schedules.

After playing two friendlies against Trinidad and Tobago and El Salvador in the U.S., the Hong Myung-bo squad will arrive in Mexico, the decisive venue, on the 5th of next month local time. South Korea is drawn in Group A of the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals, where they will face the Czech Republic on the 12th at 11 a.m., Mexico on the 19th at 10 a.m., and South Africa on the 25th at 10 a.m. The top two teams from each group, along with the top eight third-placed teams from the 12th groups, will advance to the Round of 32 knockout stage.

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*This content was translated by AI.