Korea to Train in Salt Lake City Before World Cup

National team to prepare for high-altitude matches in Mexico

Apr. 16, 2026 at 7:15am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a fragmented soccer match or training session, with sharp, overlapping planes of color in blues, greens, and reds, conceptually representing Korea's preparation for the high-altitude challenges of the World Cup.Korea's strategic high-altitude training in Salt Lake City aims to give their national team an edge at the upcoming World Cup in Mexico.Salt Lake City Today

The Korea Football Association announced that the national team will set up their training camp in Salt Lake City, Utah in the United States in May, ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The team is preparing for their group stage matches that will be played at high altitudes in Mexico.

Why it matters

Training at high altitudes in Salt Lake City will help the Korean national team acclimate to the challenging conditions they will face during their World Cup matches in Mexico, which are known for their thin air and high elevations. This preparation could give the team a competitive edge.

The details

According to the KFA, the team selected Salt Lake City after visiting several candidate sites and consulting with experts in sports science and environmental acclimation. The high-altitude training in Utah will help the players adjust to the physical demands of playing in Mexico's mountainous regions.

  • The Korean national team will set up their training camp in Salt Lake City in May 2026, ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The players

Korea Football Association (KFA)

The governing body for association football in South Korea.

Hong Myung-bo

The head coach of the Korean national football team.

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What they’re saying

“During our selection process, we visited several candidate sites for closer inspection and consulted experts in sports science and environment acclimation.”

— Korea Football Association

What’s next

The Korean national team will continue their training in Salt Lake City throughout May 2026 before traveling to Mexico for the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The takeaway

Korea's decision to train at high altitudes in Salt Lake City demonstrates their strategic approach to preparing for the challenging conditions they will face during the World Cup in Mexico. This proactive training regimen could give them a competitive edge over other teams.