S. Korea to play El Salvador in pre-World Cup friendly

football-match

S. Korea to play El Salvador in pre-World Cup friendly

By Yoo Jee-ho

SEOUL, May 5 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will take on El Salvador in a pre-World Cup friendly match.

The Salvadoran Football Association announced on its social media pages Tuesday that South Korea and El Salvador will clash at America First Field in Sandy, Utah, at 5 p.m. June 3 (local time).

El Salvador, ranked 100th, did not qualify for the upcoming World Cup. South Korea played El Salvador to a 1-1 draw in their only previous meeting in June 2023.

South Korea head coach Hong Myung-bo will announce his World Cup squad in Seoul on May 16, and his team will travel to Salt Lake City, also in Utah, two days later to set up their World Cup training camp.

The match against El Salvador will fall during the June 1-9 FIFA international match window, the final one before the World Cup.

The Korea Football Association (KFA) said it remained in talks with its Salvadoran counterpart over the kickoff time and venue of the match, while also looking to schedule another match during the early June period, with a focus on helping South Korean players get acclimated to competing in the high altitudes.

The KFA chose Salt Lake City, situated some 1,300 meters above sea level, in preparation for group-stage matches to be played in the thin air of Mexico in June.

Two of South Korea's Group A matches will be played in Guadalajara, about 1,500 meters above sea level.

South Korea will kick off their 11th consecutive World Cup appearance with a match against Czechia on June 11. They will then play Mexico, one of three co-host countries, on June 18 and then South Africa on June 24.

This image captured from the official X page of the El Salvador men's national football team on May 5, 2026, promotes a friendly match between El Salvador and South Korea. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)