'Beyond Imagination': How Son Heung-min's Popularity Captivated the Hearts of Fans from 6-Year-Olds on the Opposite Side of the Earth to 40-Year-Old Mothers [From Guadalajara]

*This content was translated by AI.

The passionate cheers of local fans in Mexico directed at Hong Myung-bo's ace and captain Son Heung-min (LAFC) vividly colored the entire city of Guadalajara. Son Heung-min's presence and popularity in Mexico, on the opposite side of the Earth, were truly beyond imagination.

The South Korean national football team, led by head coach Hong Myung-bo, conducted a community training session organized by FIFA at Chivas Valle Verde, the base camp training ground in Guadalajara, Mexico, from 3 p.m. to around 4:30 p.m. local time on the 6th. This was the first official training session for Hong Myung-bo's team after arriving in Guadalajara, just five days before the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America.

According to a Korea Football Association official, the open training session held to communicate with local fans drew a crowd of nearly 800 people. The spectators who visited the training ground were local residents recruited directly by local clubs in Guadalajara and the local government under FIFA's initiative. Spectators who lined up for over an hour before the official training began greeted the media with warm smiles, showing friendliness. In particular, fans with the Korean flag vividly painted on their faces were frequently spotted, creating a perfect festival atmosphere.

The undisputed star of the day at the event was Son Heung-min. As he began warming up on the pitch, enormous cheers erupted from various sections of the stands, with fans chanting "Son!" and "Sonny!"

A local family in Guadalajara met at the training ground, with every member being a devoted Son Heung-min fan. A mother and her son drew attention by arriving at the training ground wearing matching South Korean national team jerseys.

The eldest daughter, Melisa (16), said, "I have been closely watching his play and really liked him since he played for Tottenham Hotspur in England. I am so happy that he is now playing on the LAFC stage in the United States, which is adjacent to Mexico," giving a thumbs-up. The second son, Diego (11), also shyly smiled, saying, "Son Heung-min's aggressive playing style is so cool."

Mother Alba (40) said, "Since both of my children love Son Heung-min so much, I naturally became interested in him as well. Son Heung-min is already a superstar who is very popular among teenagers in Mexico. Seeing him in person made me excited too. He also provides excellent fan service, such as gently waving to fans during training, making him a player who is impossible not to love," offering high praise.

Local resident Jorge and his two daughters, Alondra (11) and Vanessa (6), were also devoted fans of Son Heung-min. Jorge and Alondra, who arrived at the venue wearing South Korean national team jerseys, expressed their affection for Son Heung-min, the symbol of Korea, and the national football team, saying, "We love Korean culture very much. We are enthusiastic fans of BTS and Son Heung-min."

The explosive local enthusiasm for Son Heung-min continued throughout the training. Some young fans pressed close to the fence, reaching out their hands and eagerly calling his name every time Son Heung-min approached the stands, only to be stopped by security personnel. In particular, whenever Son Heung-min executed his signature sharp curling shot motion, screams of "Son!" and "Sonny!" erupted from various parts of the stands, regardless of whether the goal net shook. Son Heung-min responded with a smile and a wave whenever he heard the earnest cries of the young fans, showcasing world-class, top-tier fan service.

On this day, not only did domestic media crews show intense interest in Son Heung-min, but so did local Mexican media. Around 20 local Mexican journalists headed to the press conference area to watch head coach Hong Myung-bo's interview, and during training, they continuously snapped photos to capture every move of Son Heung-min.

Within the national team, Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain) and Jens Castrof (Borussia Mönchengladbach), in addition to Son Heung-min, also attracted significant attention for their considerable popularity among local fans. Whenever Lee Kang-in showcased his unique skill in breaking pressure with his exquisite left-footed passes, or whenever Castrof's powerful shots violently shook the goal net, the stands erupted in gasps and vigorous cheers, proving the intense interest in them.

The South Korean national team, fully recharged with positive energy, will challenge for a victory in the fateful Group Stage match No. 1 against the Czech Republic at Estadio Guadalajara at 11 a.m. (Korean time) on June 12.

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*This content was translated by AI.