![South Korea coach Hong Myung-bo watches training at Ernst Happel Stadium on April 30, local time, a day before the match against Austria. [Photo by Yonhap]](https://image.ajunews.com/content/image/2026/05/05/20260505144538856426.jpg)
The El Salvador Football Federation said on its official social media on May 5 (Korea time) that the teams will meet June 3 at 5 p.m. local time at America First Field in Sandy, Utah.
El Salvador is ranked 100th by FIFA, well behind South Korea at 25th, and failed to qualify for the World Cup finals.
South Korea last played El Salvador in June 2023 in Daejeon, finishing in a 1-1 draw.
The main objective of the match is altitude acclimatization. America First Field sits 1,356 meters above sea level, similar to Guadalajara, Mexico, at 1,571 meters, where South Korea plans to play its first two group-stage matches and set up its base camp. The team aims to use the Utah match to help players adjust physically to high-altitude conditions expected at the World Cup.
Hong’s squad will announce its final World Cup roster on May 16 at a fan festival site in Gwanghwamun. The team is to depart May 18 for Salt Lake City to begin a pre-tournament camp. During the roughly 20-day camp, South Korea plans to sharpen tactics while conducting altitude training, then move to Guadalajara on June 5.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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