A drone was spotted flying over South Korea's training session Tuesday, just days before their critical World Cup group stage match against Mexico. South Korea coach Hong Myung-bo addressed the incident at a press conference Wednesday, calling it unfortunate but saying it did not cause significant damage to his team's preparation.
According to a report by Yahoo Sports, reports indicated the drone was brought down by Mexico's military. Mexican federal authorities did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Officials in the state of Jalisco told AFP they had no formal record of the incident. Drone flights have been banned over stadiums and facilities hosting World Cup matches and events in Mexico, as well as in the United States.
Hong said the timing of the intrusion was the main concern, even if the tactical session itself was not compromised. "Yesterday during our training there was a drone in the sky, and we came to know about the fact. But fortunately it was right before we practiced our tactics, so it did not impact us significantly," he said. "But, while we were preparing for the match, that was the most important timing. So, what happened was unfortunate."
The match carries major stakes for both teams. A South Korea victory in Guadalajara on Thursday would virtually guarantee their progress to the knockout rounds and put the winner in pole position to top Group A. The group also includes South Africa and Czechia.
Both teams come into the match with wins in their opening games. Mexico beat South Africa 2-0 in the tournament's opening game last week. South Korea came from behind to defeat Czechia 2-1.
Hong said he expects a difficult match and praised Mexico's midfield. He also acknowledged that playing in front of a home crowd would give Mexico an advantage. "We fully understand that it's going to be a match with the home team, and we know that that's going to give benefits to the home team," he said. "But my players have experienced such matches before, so it will be different tomorrow, and we need to control the rhythm and the flow of the match."
The drone incident added an unusual layer of tension to what was already a high-stakes week for both nations. South Korea has not publicly accused any specific party of sending the drone, and no organization has claimed responsibility. The investigation, if one is formally opened, would fall to Mexican federal authorities.
