South Korea head coach Hong Myung-bo has described the appearance of a drone over his team's training session as "unfortunate" ahead of their crucial FIFA World Cup clash against co-hosts Mexico. The incident briefly disrupted preparations on Tuesday, raising concerns about possible surveillance before one of the most anticipated matches in Group A.

Speaking at a pre-match press conference, Hong said the team noticed the drone shortly before tactical training began but stressed that it did not significantly affect the session. Reports suggested that the drone was later brought down by Mexico's military, although Mexican federal authorities did not immediately comment on the incident and officials in Jalisco said they had no formal record of it.

"Yesterday during our training there was a drone in the sky, and we came to know about the fact. But fortunately it was right before we practiced our tactics, so it did not impact us significantly," Hong said. He added that the timing was unfortunate because the team was preparing key strategies for the upcoming match.

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The Group A encounter carries significant importance for both sides, with victory expected to virtually secure a place in the knockout stage while putting the winning team in a strong position to finish at the top of the group. Mexico opened its campaign with a 2-0 win over South Africa, while South Korea came from behind to defeat Czechia 2-1 in its first match.

Drone operations have been prohibited over World Cup stadiums and official facilities in Mexico and the United States as part of tournament security measures. The reported incident has therefore drawn attention despite the absence of official confirmation from local authorities regarding the drone's origin or purpose.

Looking ahead to Thursday's fixture, Hong praised Mexico's creative midfield and acknowledged the advantage of playing in front of a passionate home crowd. However, he expressed confidence in his players' experience, saying they have competed in similar high-pressure environments before and will focus on controlling the rhythm and flow of the match as they seek a second consecutive victory in the tournament.

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