Guadalajara: The national football federation of South Korea has announced its preference for the location of the national team's base camp during the upcoming FIFA World Cup, with Guadalajara, Mexico, emerging as the likely choice. The Korea Football Association (KFA) confirmed on Saturday that it has submitted a list of preferred base camp sites to FIFA, including two locations in Guadalajara.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the KFA's list includes Grand Fiesta Americana Country Club and the Westin Guadalajara as potential base camp sites. These sites were chosen as the Taegeuk Warriors are set to play two of their three group stage matches in Guadalajara, with the third match scheduled in Monterrey. The World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico this year, will feature a record 48 nations.

FIFA's brochure on base camp sites outlines that the final assignments will be announced next Friday. The decision will prioritize top-ranked nations and the three co-host countries, considering factors such as the number of matches in the selected city and the distance between camps and stadiums.

South Korea's head coach, Hong Myung-bo, highlighted the importance of a "scientific approach" due to Guadalajara's elevation of approximately 1,500 meters above sea level. Hong emphasized the necessity for the team to arrive early to acclimate to the high-altitude conditions. "Since our players are not familiar with conditions at a high altitude, we listened to some expert opinions and had in-depth discussions internally," Hong stated. "Once the base camp is selected, we will decide exactly when we will start training in those conditions and how we will prepare for hot and humid conditions of Monterrey."