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South Korea faces media backlash before World Cup match against Mexico

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 16, 2026, 4:38 PM

Last updated Jun 16, 2026

South Korea faces media backlash before World Cup match against Mexico

Summary

South Korea's World Cup preparations are disrupted by backlash over leaked disparaging remarks aimed at captain Son Heung-min. The Korea Football Association regretted the comments made by media personnel during a training session prior to their first match, which resulted in a 2-1 win over the Czech Republic. Following the incident, players have limited interactions with domestic media. South Korea is set to play Mexico in Guadalajara on Thursday evening local time.

Source Links

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By the Numbers

•Leaked comments about Son Heung-min have caused controversy among the team.
•The Korea Football Association condemned the remarks and stressed player protection.
•Players are restricting media interactions ahead of their match against Mexico.
•South Korea won their opening World Cup match against the Czech Republic 2-1.
•The upcoming match against Mexico is vital in their World Cup campaign.

Latest Updates

4:38 PMYahoo Sports — Leaked remarks about South Korea star Son Heung-min spark backlash at World Cup camp

What they're saying

"
South Korea’s preparations for Thursday’s World Cup match against Mexico have been overshadowed by a rift between players and domestic media following disparaging comments about captain Son Heung-min that were caught on camera. The Korea Football Association said it regretted “the inappropriate remarks made by some media personnel during the national football team’s training at the Guadalajara base camp.” The incident occurred during an open training session on June 7, days before South Korea opened its World Cup campaign with a 2-1 win over the Czech Republic.
— Yahoo Sports

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