"'Hell expedition' is a reality." Even at 5 p.m., 44 degrees Celsius → bulletproof bus → police escort...Lee Kang-in joins today, and the first full group training on the 4th
"'Hell expedition' is a reality." Even at 5 p.m., 44 degrees Celsius → bulletproof bus → police escort...Lee Kang-in joins today, and the first full group training on the 4th
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Hong Myung-bo entered Iraq with only 11 consecutive World Cup finals remaining.
Team A will play its ninth Group B match against Iraq in Basra, Iraq, in the third Asian qualifying round for the 2026 North-China World Cup. The Taegeuk Warriors, who departed Korea on Sunday, flew 11 hours by chartered plane and arrived in Basra, Iraq on Sunday.
It was 5 p.m. local time, but I felt the heat as it was 44 degrees Celsius. An official of the A team said that it was hotter due to warm winds. After taking photos in front of a banner welcoming the Korean Embassy in Iraq at Basra Airport, the team immediately moved to their lodging facility. The coaching staff and players on board the two bulletproof buses were cooperated with road control by security vehicles and police escorts.
Twenty-one Taegeuk Warriors including "captain" Son Heung-min (Tottenham Hotspur) who returned last week after winning their first Europa League title started in Korea. Middle Easterners Cho Yoo-min (Sharjah), Park Yong-woo (Al Ain), and Kwon Kyung-won (Korpakan) arrived in Iraq first and joined at their lodging facility.
Lee Kang-in, who shared Paris Saint-Germain's first-ever treble myth, including the European Champions League, will join on the 3rd and conduct his first training session as a whole on the 4th. Training hours will be adjusted to 45 degrees Celsius during the day and 35 degrees Celsius during the evening.
"None of our players has experienced it. I think it would have helped Korea adapt to the heat wave to some extent as it has been hot in the past one to two weeks, but I think there will be various (bad conditions) including the opponent's unilateral cheering," Hong said. "I will put these parts in my head and start the game."
While Hong maintains the top spot in Group B with 16 points (four wins, four draws), Jordan is ranked second (13 points, three wins, four draws and one loss) and Iraq is third (12 points, three wins, three draws and two losses). Oman ranks fourth (10 points, one win, three draws and four losses), while Palestine (6, one win, three draws and four losses) and Kuwait (5, five draws and three losses).
In the third qualifying round, the first and second place in each group will win a ticket to the finals of the World Cup finals. The third and fourth places will go to the fourth qualifying round, while the fifth and sixth places will be eliminated. Korea will secure at least the second place in its group if it secures one draw in two matches.
"We only have two more games to play, and it is an important time to decide who will be qualified for the World Cup," Hong said. "We will play well for the next two days. We will discuss which game we will focus more on and when we are there." 안전놀이터
When asked how much Son Heung-min will be used, head coach Hong replied, "We haven't talked about that exactly yet," adding, "First of all, we've heard enough of his will."