South Korea prepares for World Cup match in Monterrey with strong local support from Korean community

When South Korea takes the pitch at Estadio BBVA in Monterrey on June 24, the atmosphere won’t feel like an away game. It will feel like Seoul.

Approximately 5,000 Korean expatriates live in the Monterrey metropolitan area, many concentrated in the nearby Pesquería district. Over 100 Korean fans greeted captain Son Heung-min and the rest of the squad when they arrived on June 21, three days before the Group A match against South Africa.

A friendship forged in 2018

In the 2018 World Cup in Russia, South Korea pulled off a stunning 2-0 victory over Germany, the defending champions. That result allowed Mexico to advance to the knockout stages.

Mexican fans showed up at the Korean consulate in Monterrey to celebrate, a moment that became one of the feel-good stories of that tournament. Eight years later, that gratitude has hardened into genuine camaraderie.

Coach Hong Myung-bo anticipates a home-like atmosphere inside Estadio BBVA, with Korean expatriates and sympathetic Mexican supporters combining behind his players.

What’s at stake on the pitch

South Korea’s Group A clash against South Africa on June 24, kicking off at 7 p.m. local time, will directly impact South Korea’s chances of advancing past the group stage in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The tournament, co-hosted by the US, Mexico, and Canada, features an expanded 48-team format for the first time.

Crypto meets the World Cup

On June 9, 2026, Kraken was named FIFA’s first Official Crypto Exchange Supporter — a dedicated crypto partnership category that FIFA created specifically for this tournament cycle.

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