S. Korea takes on El Salvador in Utah tune-up before World Cup

South Korea will face El Salvador on June 3 at America First Field in Sandy, Utah, in a friendly match intended to help the Taeguk Warriors acclimate to high-altitude conditions ahead of their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign, The Korea Times reported.

The match, part of the June 1–9 FIFA international window, gives head coach Hong Myung-bo a final pre-tournament run before South Korea opens Group A play against Czechia on June 11 — and offers Korean-American fans a rare chance to watch the national side compete on U.S. soil.

South Korea chose Salt Lake City as its pre-tournament training base in large part for its altitude. The city sits roughly 1,300 meters above sea level — conditions that closely approximate those at Guadalajara's World Cup venues, which stand at approximately 1,500 meters elevation, according to The Korea Times. The squad is scheduled to travel to Salt Lake City on May 18.

Hong Myung-bo will name his final 26-man World Cup roster on May 16. The Sandy friendly, kicking off at 5 p.m. local time, is the team's last competitive outing before group play begins and could influence final roster decisions for players on the bubble.

El Salvador, ranked 100th by FIFA, did not qualify for the 2026 World Cup. The two nations have met only once, drawing 1-1 in June 2023, according to The Korea Times.

South Korea is making its 11th consecutive World Cup appearance. After the Utah tune-up, the Taeguk Warriors face Czechia on June 11, Mexico on June 18 and South Africa on June 24 in Group A.

Ticket sales and broadcast details for the June 3 match in Sandy have not yet been announced publicly.