In Harrison, N.J., this week, as the U.S. men`s national team and South Korea gather, the upcoming World Cup, only nine months away, is a primary focus. However, Saturday`s friendly match between these two teams will also mark a significant reunion: Son Heung-Min, captain of South Korea, will face his former Tottenham Hotspur coach, Mauricio Pochettino, who now manages the USMNT.
They collaborated at Tottenham in North London from 2015 to 2019. Son joined before Pochettino`s second season and rapidly established himself as a key player for Spurs. Before Pochettino`s departure in 2019, the South Korean star amassed 75 goals and 37 assists, notably scoring four goals on their path to the UEFA Champions League final that year. While they previously met as rivals during Pochettino`s tenure at Chelsea in the 2023-24 season, seeing them oppose each other in an international setting remains unusual.
«It`s challenging to face him on the field,» Son commented on Friday. «When I was younger, he pushed me incredibly hard, shaping me into the player I am today. I hold immense respect for him. Playing against him feels strange. Of course, we`ve encountered his teams a few times in the Premier League when he was at Chelsea. However, this is the first time in a national team setting, and I`m eager to see him. Naturally, we`re not going to hold back; we aim to win, but it`s always a pleasure to see `Poche`.»
Pochettino shared similar sentiments, revealing earlier that day that he had admired Son for years, even before their collaboration at Tottenham began.
«It will be a wonderful chance for us to meet,» Pochettino stated. «We genuinely care for each other. He was an exceptionally important player during my time at Tottenham. I had actually pursued him earlier; when I was at Southampton, I tried to sign him, but he chose another club. He moved from Hamburg to Leverkusen in 2013. Upon arriving at Tottenham, we resumed our pursuit and successfully persuaded him to join us. A decade later, his bond with Tottenham is well-known, establishing him as one of the world`s premier players. He`s not only an incredible athlete but also a fantastic and unbelievable person. Yes, it`s going to be truly special.»
Their reunion occurs merely weeks after Son`s record-breaking MLS transfer from Spurs to LAFC. This move positions him almost as South Korea`s unofficial expert on the World Cup host nation, despite his acknowledgment that his American journey has just begun.
«I`ve only been here for three weeks,» he stated via an interpreter. «There isn`t much I can share yet. This is my first time in this specific city.»
Son`s anticipated impact on MLS is substantial; he is expected to draw significantly more attention to the league as one of its most prominent stars. Pochettino further asserted that Son`s presence elevates and legitimizes the overall standard of play.
«His contribution to MLS will significantly advance the game`s development,» Pochettino commented. «He will undoubtedly serve as an example for his teammates and for opponents during matches. If you saw the Argentina vs. Venezuela game yesterday, Lionel Messi is the world`s best player, and his presence here indicates a very high level. I wouldn`t claim it`s the best league globally, but it can certainly compete with others. Now, with Son joining, it further demonstrates that the league`s quality is improving, and its evolution is excellent.»
South Korea`s Visit Initiates New Phase in World Cup Preparations
The friendly on Saturday serves as a mutual advantage for both teams, particularly with the upcoming World Cup in focus. South Korea stands as the USMNT`s initial non-host nation opponent to have secured qualification for the 2026 tournament. This provides a distinct tactical test, differing from the Concacaf teams the USMNT has predominantly faced recently. Moreover, South Korea is likely among the first of several visiting national teams aiming to experience North America before the main event next spring.
Sports Illustrated Stadium, the home ground for MLS` New York Red Bulls and the venue for Saturday`s friendly, will not host any World Cup matches; that honor, including the final, goes to the nearby MetLife Stadium. South Korea, alongside other visiting national teams like Japan (the USMNT`s next opponent on Tuesday), will be among the first to somewhat adapt to one of the 2026 host nations. This initiative complements the ongoing scouting for World Cup base camps, with the Korean Football Association likely being one of many federations already reviewing FIFA`s list of potential training sites ahead of the draw.
«The World Cup timing will be slightly different, so experiencing the current weather now helps us anticipate June`s conditions,» Head Coach Hong Myung-bo explained through an interpreter. «Currently, we`re focusing on preparing for training camps. Several environmental candidates are under consideration, and we`re collaborating closely with the association to select the best possible base camp. While we are in the process of preparing these camps, the final decision will be made after the draw on December 5.»
Meanwhile, Hong indicated that Saturday`s friendly would be an opportunity to experiment with his squad as the World Cup approaches. Son`s specific position for the game remains uncertain; he gained prominence at Tottenham as a winger, typically appearing as a midfielder on South Korea`s national team rosters throughout his 15-year career. However, for this match, Son is listed as a forward, raising speculation about a potential central role. Son, himself, expressed no particular preference.
«I`m proficient in both positions,» Son stated. «Both roles are my strengths, so I will play wherever the team requires me. This decision rests with the head coach, and I feel confident in either position.»
Instead, attention in midfield turns to Jens Castrop, who might become the first dual national to represent South Korea`s men`s national team. He recently completed a one-time switch, having previously played for Germany`s youth teams. Hong remained cagey about Castrop`s potential playing time during this period but expressed a very positive initial impression of the Borussia Monchengladbach player.
«Although it`s been a short time, he`s adapting well,» Hong commented. «Tactically, we`ve discussed his movements and given him specific instructions. While his playing time will be determined during the match, he demonstrated a very strong performance in training.»
Similar to Pochettino`s approach with the USMNT, Hong is also taking a measured pace, with nine months remaining until the World Cup.
«While the result matters, demonstrating a strong performance alongside it is equally crucial,» the head coach stated. «We have experienced players, and the caliber of our opponent is very significant, making them one of the strongest we`ll face. This is a formidable team. Our focus is on showcasing our preparations. Naturally, securing a win is important, but we`ll strive for both – a good result and a strong performance – which would be ideal for our squad.»
O`zbek Tilida (Lotincha): Son Heung-Min va Pochettino Uchrashuvi
Nyu-Jersi shtatining Harrison shahrida bu hafta AQSh erkaklar terma jamoasi va Janubiy Koreya yig`ilishar ekan, atigi to`qqiz oy qolgan Jahon chempionati asosiy diqqat markazida. Ammo shanba kungi ushbu ikki jamoa o`rtasidagi o`rtoqlik o`yini muhim uchrashuvga mezbonlik qiladi: Janubiy Koreya terma jamoasi sardori Son Heung-Min, hozirda AQSh terma jamoasi bosh murabbiyi Mauricio Pochettino bilan, o`zining sobiq «Tottenxem Hotspur»dagi murabbiyiga qarshi maydonga tushadi.
Ular 2015 yildan 2019 yilgacha Shimoliy Londondagi «Tottenxem»da hamkorlik qilishgan. Son Pochettinoning ikkinchi mavsumi boshlanishidan oldin klubga qo`shilib, tezda «Shporlar»ning asosiy o`yinchisiga aylandi. Pochettino 2019 yilda ishdan bo`shatilishidan oldin, Janubiy Koreya terma jamoasi yulduzi 75 gol urdi va 37 golga assistentlik qildi, jumladan, o`sha yili UEFA Chempionlar Ligasi finaliga yo`lda to`rtta gol kiritdi. Bu ularning birinchi marta raqib sifatida uchrashishi emas; bu farq Pochettino 2023-24 mavsumida «Chelsi»ni boshqargan vaqtiga tegishli. Ammo ularni xalqaro maydonda bir-biriga qarshi ko`rish hali ham g`ayrioddiy manzara.
«Maydonda unga qarshi o`ynash qiyin,» dedi Son juma kuni. «Yoshligimda u meni juda qattiq mashq qildirardi va meni hozirgi futbolchiga aylantirdi. Unga nisbatan ulkan hurmatim bor. Unga qarshi o`ynash g`alati tuyuladi. Albatta, Premer-ligada u «Chelsi»da bo`lganida uning jamoalariga bir necha bor duch kelganmiz. Ammo, milliy terma jamoa sharoitida bu birinchi marta va men uni ko`rishga intiqaman. Tabiiyki, biz hech narsani yashirmaymiz; biz g`alaba qozonishni maqsad qilganmiz, lekin `Poche`ni ko`rish har doim yoqimli.»
Pochettino ham shunga o`xshash fikrlarni bildirdi, u hatto «Tottenxem»da birga ishlashni boshlashdan yillar oldin ham Sonni qoyil qolganini shu kuni erta e`lon qildi.
«Bu biz uchun uchrashish uchun ajoyib imkoniyat bo`ladi,» dedi Pochettino. «Biz bir-birimizni chin dildan hurmat qilamiz. U mening «Tottenxem»dagi faoliyatim davomida juda muhim, eng muhim futbolchilardan biri edi. Men uni avvalroq ham qo`lga kiritishga intilganman; «Sautgempton»da bo`lganimda uni sotib olmoqchi edim, lekin u boshqa klubni tanladi. U 2013 yilda Gamburgdan Leverkuzenga o`tdi. «Tottenxem»ga kelganimizda, biz uni yana ta`qib qildik va uni bizga qo`shilishga ko`ndirdik. O`n yildan so`ng, uning «Tottenxem» bilan aloqasi dunyoning eng yaxshi o`yinchilaridan biri sifatida tan olingan. U nafaqat ajoyib sportchi, balki ajoyib va hayratlanarli inson. Ha, bu haqiqatan ham juda yoqimli bo`ladi.»
Ularning uchrashuvi Sonning «Shporlar»dan LAFCga MLS rekordini o`rnatgan transferidan bir necha hafta o`tib sodir bo`ladi. Bu harakat uni, AQShdagi sarguzashtlari endigina boshlanganiga qaramay, deyarli Janubiy Koreyaning Jahon chempionati mezbon mamlakati bo`yicha norasmiy mutaxassisi sifatida joylashtiradi.
«Men bu yerda atigi uch hafta bo`ldim,» dedi u tarjimon orqali. «Hozircha bo`lishadigan narsalarim cheklangan. Bu shaharda birinchi marta bo`lishim.»
Sonning MLSga ta`siri sezilarli darajada katta; u ligaga eng ko`zga ko`ringan yulduzlaridan biri sifatida sezilarli darajada ko`proq e`tiborni jalb qilishi kutilmoqda. Pochettino, Sonning ishtiroki o`yin sifatini yanada oshiradi va qonuniylashtiradi, deb ta`kidladi.
«Uning MLSga qo`shgan hissasi o`yin rivojlanishiga sezilarli darajada yordam beradi,» dedi Pochettino. «U shubhasiz jamoa do`stlari va musobaqa davomida unga qarshi o`ynaydigan raqiblar uchun namuna bo`ladi. Agar siz kecha Argentina va Venesuela o`yinini ko`rgan bo`lsangiz, Lionel Messi dunyoning eng yaxshi futbolchisi va uning bu yerda o`ynashi darajaning juda yuqori ekanligini ko`rsatadi. Men uni dunyodagi eng yaxshi liga deb aytmayman, lekin u boshqa ligalar bilan raqobatlasha oladi. Endi, Sonning qo`shilishi bilan, bu liganing sifati o`sib borayotganini va uning rivojlanishi juda yaxshi ekanligini yana bir bor ko`rsatadi.»
Janubiy Koreya Tashrifi Jahon Chempionatiga Tayyorgarlikning Yangi Bosqichini Boshladi
Shanba kungi o`rtoqlik uchrashuvi har ikki jamoa uchun ham o`zaro foydalidir, ayniqsa yaqinlashib kelayotgan Jahon chempionati e`tiborga olinganda. Janubiy Koreya 2026 yilgi turnirga mezbon bo`lmagan, ammo allaqachon yo`llanma olgan birinchi raqibdir va AQSh terma jamoasi so`nggi bir yil davomida asosan Konkakaf jamoalariga qarshi o`ynaganidan so`ng, yangi taktik sinovni taqdim etadi. Bundan tashqari, Janubiy Koreya kelasi bahorda asosiy musobaqa oldidan Shimoliy Amerikani tatib ko`rishni maqsad qilgan ko`plab tashrif buyuruvchi terma jamoalaridan birinchisi bo`lishi mumkin.
«Sports Illustrated» stadioni, MLSning «Nyu-York Red Bulls» jamoasi uy maydoni va shanba kungi o`rtoqlik uchrashuvining o`tkazilish joyi, Jahon chempionati o`yinlariga mezbonlik qilmaydi; bu sharaf, jumladan final o`yini, yaqin atrofdagi «MetLife» stadioniga nasib etadi. Janubiy Koreya, Yaponiya (AQSh terma jamoasining seshanba kungi raqibi) kabi boshqa tashrif buyuruvchi terma jamoalar bilan birga, 2026 yilgi mezbon davlatlardan biriga biroz moslashish uchun birinchilardan bo`ladi. Bu tashabbus, Jahon chempionati uchun baza lagerlarini skautlash ishlari bilan birga olib borilmoqda, Koreya Futbol Assotsiatsiyasi, ehtimol, FIFAning o`quv maydonchalari ro`yxati bilan tanishayotgan ko`plab federatsiyalardan biridir.
«Jahon chempionatining vaqti biroz farq qiladi, shuning uchun hozirgi ob-havoni his qilish iyun oyining sharoitlarini oldindan bilishga yordam beradi,» dedi bosh murabbiy Xong Myung-bo tarjimon orqali. «Hozirda biz o`quv-mashg`ulot yig`inlariga tayyorgarlik ko`rishga e`tibor qaratmoqdamiz. Atrof-muhit nuqtai nazaridan bir nechta nomzodlar ko`rib chiqilmoqda va biz assotsiatsiya bilan hamkorlikda eng yaxshi baza lagerini tanlashga harakat qilmoqdamiz. Biz ushbu lagerlarni tayyorlash jarayonidamiz, ammo 5 dekabr kuni qur`a tashlash marosimi bo`ladi va shundan so`ng qaror qabul qilinadi.»
Ayni paytda, Xong shanba kungi o`rtoqlik uchrashuvini Jahon chempionati yaqinlashar ekan, tarkibni sinab ko`rish imkoniyati sifatida ishlatishini aytdi. Sonning o`yin uchun aniq roli noaniq qolmoqda; u «Tottenxem»da qanot o`yinchisi sifatida shuhrat qozongan, 15 yillik terma jamoadagi faoliyati davomida Janubiy Koreya ro`yxatlarida ko`pincha yarim himoyachi sifatida ko`rsatilgan. Biroq, bu o`yin uchun Son hujumchi sifatida qayd etilgan bo`lib, markazda o`ynashi mumkinligi haqida savollar tug`dirmoqda. Sonning o`zi esa hech qanday afzallik bildirmadi.
«Ikkala pozitsiyada ham yaxshi o`ynay olaman,» dedi Son. «Ikkala rol ham mening kuchli tomonlarim, shuning uchun jamoaga qayerda kerak bo`lsam, o`sha joyda o`ynayman. Bu bosh murabbiyning qarori bo`ladi va men ikkala pozitsiyada ham o`zimni ishonchli his qilaman.»
Aksincha, yarim himoyadagi qiziqish Jens Kastropga qaratilgan bo`lib, u Germaniya yoshlar terma jamoasida o`ynaganidan so`ng, Koreya erkaklar terma jamoasi uchun o`ynaydigan birinchi ikki fuqarolik vakili bo`lishi mumkin. Xong Kastropning bu oynadagi o`yin vaqti haqida aniq ma`lumot bermadi, ammo «Borussiya Myonxengladbax» futbolchisining birinchi taassurotlari juda ijobiy ekanligini ta`kidladi.
«Vaqt kam bo`lishiga qaramay, u yaxshi moslashmoqda,» dedi Xong. «Taktik jihatdan, biz uning harakatlarini muhokama qildik va unga maxsus ko`rsatmalar berdik. Qancha o`ynashi o`yin davomida hal qilinadi, ammo mashg`ulotlarda u juda yaxshi natija ko`rsatdi.»
Pochettinoning AQSh terma jamoasi bilan yondashuviga o`xshab, Xong ham Jahon chempionatiga to`qqiz oy qolganida ishlarni shoshilmasdan amalga oshirmoqda.
«Natija muhim bo`lsa-da, u bilan birga kuchli o`yin ko`rsatish ham bir xil darajada muhimdir,» dedi bosh murabbiy. «Bizda tajribali futbolchilar bor va raqibimizning saviyasi juda yuqori, bu ularni biz duch keladigan eng kuchli raqiblardan biriga aylantiradi. Bu kuchli jamoa. Bizning diqqatimiz tayyorgarligimizni namoyish etishga qaratilgan. Tabiiyki, g`alaba qozonish muhim, ammo biz ikkalasini ham — yaxshi natija va kuchli o`yinni — qo`lga kiritishga intilamiz, bu bizning jamoamiz uchun eng yaxshisi bo`ladi.»
