When South Korea takes the pitch at Estadio BBVA in Monterrey on June 24, the atmosphere won’t feel like an away game. It will feel like Seoul.
Approximately 5,000 Korean expatriates live in the Monterrey metropolitan area, many concentrated in the nearby Pesquería district. Over 100 Korean fans greeted captain Son Heung-min and the rest of the squad when they arrived on June 21, three days before the Group A match against South Africa.
A friendship forged in 2018
In the 2018 World Cup in Russia, South Korea pulled off a stunning 2-0 victory over Germany, the defending champions. That result allowed Mexico to advance to the knockout stages.
Mexican fans showed up at the Korean consulate in Monterrey to celebrate, a moment that became one of the feel-good stories of that tournament. Eight years later, that gratitude has hardened into genuine camaraderie.
