Red Devils, Korean expats to give Taeguk Warriors a home-crowd feel in Monterrey against South Africa
More than 2,000 Korean fans and residents are expected to pack Monterrey Stadium, giving Hong Myung-bo's team a major boost in its final Group A match.
aespa's Karina and Winter at the Guadalajara Stadium in Mexico on June 11.JOONGANG ILBO
Korea will play its final World Cup group match far from home, but it may not feel that way. Thousands of Korean fans and residents are expected to fill the stands in Monterrey on Wednesday, turning a neutral venue into something close to a home crowd as Hong Myung-bo's side faces South Africa.
The two teams will meet in their Group A finale at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesdayat Monterrey Stadium in Guadalupe, Mexico.
More than 2,000 Korean supporters are expected to attend the event in person, according to the Korea Football Association (KFA). The national team's official supporters' group, the Red Devils, will turn out around 510 strong, and roughly 1,500 Korean residents are expected to come.
The turnout owes much to where the match is being played. Guadalupe sits within the Monterrey metropolitan area, one of Mexico's main industrial and economic hubs, where about 300 Korean companies operate, including Hyundai Mobis, Kia, LG Electronics and Posco. Around 5,000 Korean nationals live in the region.
"Based on what we have confirmed through the local consulate, more than 800 residents alone have bought tickets, and we expect a considerable number from Mexico City as well, not just Monterrey," a KFA official said. "The Red Devils turnout keeps growing, from 340 at the first match to 410 at the second."
Korea's head coach Hong Myung-bo speaks at a press conference at the Monterrey Stadium in Mexico on June 23.JOONGANG ILBO
Hong hopes that the support could lift his players.
"I know there are a lot of Korean companies and a lot of Korean residents here," he said at a news conference at Monterrey Stadium on Wednesday. "I think the players will be able to go into tomorrow's match with more of a home-ground feeling. I see it as a big gift, and we'll use it well to play a good match."
The warmth has not come from Koreans alone. Hong pointed out that Mexican fans had also embraced the Korean team during the group stage.
"I know relations between Korea and Mexico are very good," he said. "In the opening match against the Czech Republic, not only Korean fans but also Mexican fans at the stadium chanted 'Corea.' I'm grateful for that."
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This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
