The South Korea national football team is set to face South Africa in the final group stage match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Coach Hong Myung-bo's team must win in Monterrey, Mexico, to secure a spot in the knockout stage.

What's at stake?

The final group stage match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup is crucial for the South Korea national football team. Currently, South Korea is in second place with 3 points, having recorded 1 win, 0 draws, and 1 loss.

Recent form

The recent form of the South Korea national football team is as follows. | Date | Opponent | Result | | --- | --- | --- | | 2025-03-25 | Jordan | 1-1 |

The significance of Monterrey

Monterrey holds special meaning for Korean football fans. In the 1983 Mexico World Youth Championship, Korea won against Uruguay 2-1 in the round of 16, advancing to the semifinals. The nickname given to the Korean players at that time was 'Red Devils'.

Current situation

Currently, there are approximately 5,000 Korean residents in Monterrey, and over 300 Korean companies, including Kia and Hyundai Mobis, have established operations in the city. As a result, the local support for the Korean team is expected to be very high.