Son Heung-min says he will carry the captain’s responsibility into the 2026 World Cup while recalling the strange, joyful bond Mexico fans formed with him after his 2018 stoppage-time goal. Now, the mood will be harsher: South Korea faces Mexico at Estadio Akr
When Son Heung-min thinks back to the 2018 World Cup, the memory isn’t just football. It’s the way Mexico fans turned him into an unlikely celebration—until the next time the matchups demanded something else.
In 2018, Son scored in the 96th minute as South Korea rescued Mexico from group-stage elimination against Germany. The timing sparked celebrations across Mexico, with representatives at Korean embassies and companies swept into the noise by fans. Just weeks after the tournament. when Son visited Southern California with Tottenham Hotspur. he surprised LAFC supporters at an event—and a fan in a Mexico jersey gifted him a sombrero as chants rose: “Coreano. hermano. ya eres mexicano.”.
That moment became foreshadowing. Son would later join LAFC in 2025 after helping Tottenham win the Europa League. and those warm feelings followed him into Los Angeles—at least in places where LA Galaxy aren’t the loudest voice. Fans of Mexico. the U.S. Korea and other national teams have united around Son as he helped LAFC reach the Western Conference semifinals and the semifinals of the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup.
Son, now preparing for the 2026 World Cup, described the relationship he still feels—alongside the reality that competition will bring a different kind of energy.
“I love Mexican fans, and I love Mexican players. I obviously played the 2018 World Cup against them. Last year, we played a friendly game against Mexico in Nashville. I think we have a great relationship with each other, are both really, really respectful,” Son said. “When we have a home game at BMO Stadium. there’s a lot of Mexican fans cheering us and cheering me especially. I’m really grateful for that.”.
He knows what will happen when South Korea and Mexico meet again. “Obviously, when you play against each other, they probably will hate me again! But I totally understand that. That’s why we love football.”
The rematch is already loaded with history. Mexico won 2-1 over South Korea in 2018, with Son’s late strike not enough to overcome goals from Carlos Vela and Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez.
In Los Angeles. Son says the cross-cultural pull has been real. even if he hasn’t personally walked through all of it. A Pew Research study reported that more than 300. 000 people of Korean heritage lived in the LA metro area in 2019—more than anywhere else in the U.S.—with many of them living in Koreatown. about five miles north of LAFC’s BMO Stadium. Yet Son said he hasn’t visited.
“Unfortunately, I’ve never been to K-Town just because I didn’t want to bring chaos. I’m just protecting myself and protecting the K-Town a little bit, but I love (experiencing) new cultures,” Son said. “I was in the UK, in Germany and now in the U.S. which has a different culture that I love to learn. I’m enjoying every single moment, I love the amazing weather. Every single second makes me so happy.”.
The World Cup setting will be different. Mexico will have a major home-field advantage at the Estadio Akron as the crowd rallies behind El Tri. And South Korea will have to cope with a physical disadvantage that doesn’t care about past goodwill: the altitude. Guadalajara sits 5,138 feet above sea level, and Son is blunt about what it will require.
“Mexico is going to be a little bit different because of the altitude, a hard challenge, a new challenge, but we’re here to win it. It’s going to be tough, but we’ll try to do our best,” Son said.
He’s seen altitude up close during this year’s Concacaf Champions Cup. LAFC got past Liga MX finalist Cruz Azul in the quarterfinals with a 3-0 home win in the first leg. where Son scored the opener. and then a 1-1 draw in Puebla where goalkeeper Hugo Lloris made eight saves. The semifinals pushed the issue further: LAFC went to Toluca, Mexico’s highest city at more than 8,700 feet of elevation.
After a 2-1 home win in the first leg, Son struggled early, and Toluca rolled to a 4-0 win that put the Mexican club in the final with a 5-2 aggregate win.
Son hopes the experience can act as a kind of translation—something he can use for South Korea and pass along to teammates as they plan for Mexico.
Mexico is far from the only goal. Son also framed the World Cup as a leadership test, saying he intends to spread responsibility among his teammates as he carries the captain’s title into 2026.
Korea’s schedule adds pressure and structure. As preparations ramp up, the team will go through a high-altitude camp in Utah. They will play two friendly matches in Provo before moving to their base camp in Guadalajara. The message from Son is that time to adjust may be the difference between coping and collapsing.
“It’s going to be really difficult. Mexico has amazing fans, amazing players, but the altitude also probably helps them. I’ve been in Mexico twice, played in the different altitudes,” he said. “Both times it was not easy because we just went there the day before and had to play. There was no time (for) adaptation. This time, we’re going to Salt Lake and try to adapt to the altitude. You play against Mexico in normal conditions. it’s also hard. but with that altitude it’s going to be more challenging.”.
South Korea’s path could also hinge on how they perform in their surrounding games. Son referenced the team’s opening against the Czech Republic and finale against South Africa. saying that well-adapted performances—or good results—would help Korea rise to the challenge and set up success through its preparation.
Beyond the field, Son is also trying to channel what he hopes will outlast a tournament. He plans to continue inspiring young Korean players and players of all backgrounds through work with Hyundai. Hyundai’s “Next Starts Now” campaign includes youth camps in four World Cup host cities. including Los Angeles. aimed at encouraging children to keep chasing their soccer dreams.
“I’m really grateful me and Hyundai were on the same page,” Son said. “I always want to try to help the new, young generation, get it going in a good direction. I hope we can work together and bring the next generation success.”
For now, though, the focus is narrower. This summer, Son will hope to return to Los Angeles for a hero’s welcome from Korea fans in Southern California—and, depending on the match results and the rematch mood, possibly a few boos from those who will be backing El Tri.
Son Heung-min 2026 World Cup Mexico vs South Korea Estadio Akron altitude LAFC Hyundai Next Starts Now Carlos Vela Javier Chicharito Hernandez Hugo Lloris Concacaf Champions Cup Guadalajara BMO Stadium
World Cup already and it’s 2026?? lol
I don’t get how “Mexico-Korea unity” turns into a harsher mood like?? Sounds like the fans are friendly until the whistle. Also Estadio Akr?? is that even a real place or did they typo it.
So he scored that late goal in 2018 and then Mexico fans were all “ya eres mexicano” or whatever… that’s cool. But why does it say harsher now if it’s the same matchup? Like is Mexico trying to get revenge or something, or is it just the article being dramatic.
Sombrero thing in LAFC sounds wild, but I’m confused—did LAFC even play Tottenham or is this just some Tottenham event? Half the article reads like web text got messed up with “at least&hellip” and stuff. Either way I’m rooting for Son, but I swear these teams always make it weird every time they face Mexico, like it’s destiny or something.