South Korea kept the momentum ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a 1-0 win over El Salvador on Wednesday in the final friendly before the tournament starts next week.
Lee Dong-gyeong scored 10 minutes into the second half at their training base in Utah to give South Korea their second straight friendly win after a 5-0 victory over Trinidad and Tobago last week.
Captain Son Heung-min started on the bench and came on five minutes after Lee had given South Korea the lead with a curling, left-footed free-kick.
The 33-year-old Son, who has faced increasing questions about his faltering form after scoring just twice for his club Los Angeles FC this season, scored twice against Trinidad and Tobago.
It took his international tally to 56 goals in 144 matches, two short of Cha Bum-kun’s South Korean record.
South Korea will face the Czech Republic, South Africa and co-hosts Mexico in Group A before starting their campaign against the Czechs in Guadalajara on June 11.
Player Ratings:
South Korea: Jo Hyeon-woo (6.8/10), Seol Young-woo (7.1/10), Kim Min-jae (7.5/10), Kwon Kyung-won (6.9/10), Kim Jin-su (7.0/10), Hwang In-beom (7.4/10), Park Yong-woo (6.8/10), Lee Kang-in (8.2/10), Lee Jae-sung (7.0/10), Hwang Hee-chan (7.3/10), Son Heung-min (8.5/10)
subtitles: Cho Gue-sung (6.4/10), Hong Hyun-seok (6.2/10), Oh Hyeon-gyu (6.0/10), Um Ji-sung (6.1/10)
El Salvador: Mario González (7.2/10), Bryan Tamacas (6.1/10), Melvin Cruz (5.9/10), Rudy Clavel (6.2/10), Jorge Cruz (6.0/10), Nelson Blanco (5.8/10), Christian Martínez (6.4/10), Narciso Orellana (6.5/10), Jairo Henríquez (6.7/10), Leonardo Menjívar (6.3/10), Nelson Bonilla (5.9/10)
subtitles: Mayer Gil (6.2/10), Styven Vásquez (6.0/10), Amando Moreno (5.8/10), Tereso Benítez (5.9/10)
(With input from agencies)
Published on June 4, 2026
