South Korea national team coach Hong Myung-bo voiced regret over a drone sighting during a closed training session ahead of their June 19 World Cup match against Mexico.
Coach Hong Myung-bo expressed regret at a June 18 press conference in Estadio Guadalajara over a drone that appeared above the team’s closed training session on Tuesday.
According to the Korea Football Association, a security official spotted the drone during warm-ups at Chivas Verde Valle. Mexican military forces intercepted it, but two men believed to be the operators fled before being caught. The association has asked local police to investigate and notified FIFA.
Hong said the incident occurred before tactical work began and did not affect preparations. “It is regrettable that something like that happened at such a critical juncture,” he added. An anonymous Mexican federal official told the Associated Press that several drones had been neutralized near stadiums and base camps in recent days.
South Korea will face Mexico at Guadalajara Stadium on June 19.