The South Korean national football team, which is set to compete in the 2026 North and Central America World Cup, is expected to travel to Guadalajara, Mexico, the site of their matches, on a chartered flight with the support of the Korea Football Association (KFA). This measure is intended to minimize fatigue from long-distance travel and maximize the players' condition. The association is also focusing on supporting the team by taking into account the high-altitude match environment. The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) has significantly increased its support payments for participating countries, so just by qualifying for the finals, Hong Myungbo's squad has secured at least 18.5 billion won in revenue.
According to the association on May 8, the national team plans to use a chartered flight when moving from their pre-tournament camp in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, to their World Cup base camp in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico.
An association official stated, "We are currently working on arranging a chartered flight for the team's move from the base camp to Guadalajara," adding, "We will make an official announcement once it is confirmed."
The stadium in Guadalajara, where the team will play two group stage matches, is located at an altitude of 1,571 meters above sea level. The association is focused on minimizing the burden of travel so that the players can perform in top condition.
The distance from Salt Lake City International Airport to Guadalajara International Airport is approximately 2,400 km, with a flight time of about five hours. While local commercial flights are available, using a chartered flight is expected to help maintain the team's condition by reducing airport waiting times and streamlining immigration procedures.
Captain Son Heung-min and other players of the South Korean national football team were training at the MK Dons training ground in Milton Keynes, northwest London, UK, on March 26 (local time) in preparation for the friendly match against Ivory Coast. Photo by Yonhap News
원본보기 아이콘The association will announce the final squad for the 2026 North and Central America World Cup at 4 p.m. on May 16 at the Onmadang of KT Gwanghwamun Building West in Jongno-gu, Seoul. The announcement event will be held alongside a fan festival and broadcast live on the large media wall "KT Square" on the exterior of the KT Gwanghwamun Building. This is the second time the Football Association has held a large-scale event in a public space with fans ahead of the World Cup, following the departure ceremony for the 2018 Russia World Cup. As this event will serve as a de facto departure ceremony, there will be no separate official send-off event.
After the squad is finalized, the first group, including head coach Hong Myungbo, the coaching staff, and support staff, will depart for the pre-tournament camp in Salt Lake City, USA, on May 18. Overseas-based players will join the base camp locally. The national team will spend about two weeks at the camp to improve player fitness and team cohesion. Two friendlies, including a match against El Salvador, are scheduled. Afterwards, the team will travel to Guadalajara on June 5 on the chartered flight supported by the Football Association.
This is not the first time the association has supported Hong Myungbo's squad with chartered flights. The national team used chartered flights for their return home following the away match in Jordan in October 2024, and for travel between Kuwait and Palestine in November of the same year. Last year, the team also used chartered flights provided by the association for the round-trip to Iraq in June and during the two consecutive A-matches in the United States and Mexico in September.
Placed in Group A, South Korea will play its first match against the Czech Republic in Guadalajara on June 12. The second match, also in Guadalajara, will be against Mexico on June 19, after which the team will move to Monterrey to play South Africa for the third match. During the World Cup, the team will use chartered flights provided by FIFA and the tournament organizing committee.
Round of 16: 23.6 Billion Won, Quarterfinals: 28 Billion Won
Along with chartered flight support, FIFA has also greatly expanded its financial support for participating countries. By qualifying for the North and Central America World Cup finals, Hong Myungbo's squad will secure approximately 18.5 billion won.
According to foreign media, FIFA decided at its council meeting last month to increase support payments to all participating countries by 15%. While FIFA had already approved a record-breaking support package in December last year, the unprecedented joint hosting of this tournament by the United States, Canada, and Mexico has increased the travel burden for participating countries, prompting the additional increase.
As a result, the preparation grant for qualified nations has increased from the previous 1.5 million dollars (about 2.2 billion won) to 2.5 million dollars (about 3.7 billion won). The minimum compensation for teams eliminated in the group stage has also been raised from 9 million dollars (about 13.3 billion won) to 10 million dollars (about 14.8 billion won).
Therefore, even if South Korea is eliminated in the group stage, it is guaranteed at least 12.5 million dollars (about 18.5 billion won). FIFA will also expand additional support for delegation operating costs and ticket allocations to more than 16 million dollars (about 23.6 billion won).
The winner of this North and Central America World Cup will receive 50 million dollars (about 73.9 billion won), up 8 million dollars compared to the 2022 Qatar World Cup. The runner-up will receive 33 million dollars (about 48.7 billion won), third place 29 million dollars (about 42.8 billion won), and fourth place 27 million dollars (about 39.9 billion won). Quarterfinalists will receive 19 million dollars (about 28 billion won), round of 16 teams 15 million dollars (about 22.2 billion won), and round of 32 teams 11 million dollars (about 16.3 billion won).
During the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, the Korea Football Association received approximately 17.2 billion won in prize money from FIFA. At that time, the association awarded the players a base bonus of 20 million won, a 30 million won bonus for victories, a 10 million won bonus for draws, and a 100 million won bonus for reaching the round of 16. It is reported that about 56% of the total prize money was distributed to the national team.
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