South Korea’s World Cup 2026 squad under harsh training and media dispute

South Korea’s national football team preparing for the 2026 World Cup has attracted attention for an unusually severe training programme for its central defenders. The regimen includes weighted vests, steep‑gradient repeats and hypoxic drills that push players beyond normal pain thresholds, a method likened to military discipline and aimed at dominating physical battles late in matches.

At the same time, the team became embroiled in a media controversy shortly before its group‑stage match against Mexico in Guadalajara. South Korean journalists were recorded making disparaging comments about captain Son Heung‑min’s exemption from mandatory military service. The remarks sparked anger in the dressing room, prompting the squad to suspend all non‑mandatory media interactions and demand a formal apology.

The dual focus on physical preparation and off‑field media relations highlights the pressures faced by the Korean side ahead of the tournament.