Thousands Gather in Seoul to Cheer for South Korea's World Cup Match Against Mexico

SEOUL, June 19 (Yonhap) -- Thousands of fans were gathered in Seoul's Gwanghwamun Square on Friday to cheer for their national football team in its group stage match against Mexico at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

With the game scheduled to kick off at 10 a.m., around 2,300 people had arrived at the plaza in central Seoul as of 9 a.m., according to an unofficial police estimate. Fans waved and took photos whenever they appeared on the electronic display board.

Street cheering has become a cultural phenomenon in South Korea since it co-hosted the 2002 FIFA World Cup, when millions filled major city streets to support the national team.

"I stayed up all night and I am exhausted, but I plan to watch the game until the final whistle before heading home to sleep," 19-year-old Kwon Hyuk-woo said.

Fans offered differing score predictions.

Lee Seung-jun, 36, expected a 3-0 victory driven by South Korean captain Son Heung-min's hat trick. Bae Jun-gi, 19, forecast a tie against a tough Mexican squad, adding, "But I would still be thrilled if we won."

Mexican fans wrapped in their national flags also joined the crowd.

"I found about the street cheering on social media," said Jordi, a 30-year-old from Tijuana, Mexico. "Mexico is in full festival mode right now, so I wanted to bring that energy to Korea."

The organizers of the watch party -- the Korea Football Association, KT Corp. and the Red Devils national team supporters group -- estimated that up to 20,000 people could visit the square for the event.

Victory against Mexico would secure South Korea the top seed in Group A, regardless of the outcome from its final group stage match against South Africa next week.