GUADALAJARA, Mexico (AP) 鈥� South Korea鈥檚 preparations for Thursday鈥檚 match against Mexico have been overshadowed by a rift between the players and the country’s media following disparaging comments about captain .
The spat reportedly led to the resignation of one of the team鈥檚 media officers on Tuesday. The national team has yet to confirm the resignation, which has been reported by some of the media covering the South Korean squad in Guadalajara.
Access for the media had apparently been cut off after the comments against Son were caught on camera. Players reportedly refrained from speaking to South Korean media outside official World Cup commitments, and scheduled interviews with players were canceled.
Mexican media said there was a meeting between the team’s media officers and the South Korean media to discuss the incident.
There was no media access scheduled on Tuesday. The pre-match news conference is scheduled for Wednesday.
The South Korean soccer association said it regretted 鈥渢he inappropriate remarks made by some media personnel during the national football team鈥檚 training at the Guadalajara base camp.鈥� The organization added the comments caused 鈥済reat shock and disappointment鈥� within the squad.
The incident occurred during an open training session on June 7, days before South Korea in its first World Cup match.
The 33-year-old Son, running with teammates, was mocked by unidentified media personnel over his military record in footage recorded by broadcaster JTBC, South Korea鈥檚 official rights holder for the tournament. The video was later leaked, prompting a strong reaction on social media.
By helping South Korea win gold at the 2018 Asian Games, Son from the mandatory 21-month military service required of able-bodied men.
Son later completed alternative duties, including a three-week military training course in 2020 and community service.
The federation said in Monday’s statement that it 鈥渨ill continue to prioritize the protection of the squad and strive to create a healthy media environment.鈥�
Son, who a year ago, missed chances in the victory over the Czech Republic, with Hwang In-beom and Oh Hyeon-gyu scoring in Guadalajara.
South Korea plays again in Guadalajara on Thursday when it faces Mexico in Group A.
___
Duerden reported from London.
___
AP World Cup:
Copyright © 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
