From saunas to high altitudes: How Korea is preparing for 2026 World Cup

The Korea Times

From saunas to high altitudes: How Korea is preparing for 2026 World Cup

Click here for more articles by Kormedi.com. With the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America opening later this week, Korea's national football team, led by head coach Hong Myung-bo, has completed a specialized adaptation program designed to prepare players for the high altitude and hot, humid conditions awaiting them in Guadalajara, Mexico. The team held a pre-tournament training camp near Salt Lake City, Utah, from May 18 for approximately two weeks. Salt Lake City sits at an elevation of about 1,460 meters above sea level, similar to Guadalajara, where Korea will play its first two group stage matches at an elevation of 1,571 meters. At high altitudes, lower air density can reduce the amount of oxygen available to the body. A sudden move to higher elevations may cause symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, nausea and decreased athletic performance. To help players adapt, the coaching staff regularly monitored oxygen saturation levels and adjusted individual training loads based on the data. Another key element of the team's preparation was heat acclimation training. After workouts, play

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