South Korea’s Son Heung-min joined LAFC ahead of World Cup

Last August, when LAFC acquired superstar Son Heung-min from Tottenham Hotspur, fans assumed he made the move to Major League Soccer because of lifestyle. 

His time with the Spurs had come to an end. Southern California added sunshine, palm trees and beaches. Los Angeles brought global visibility, and MLS gave him a chance to join Lionel Messi as one of the faces of a growing league while simultaneously winding down one of the most accomplished careers in Asian soccer history. 

But the real reason is far more interesting. 

Sonny, as he’s affectionately known by his fanbase, didn’t come to Los Angeles to slow down. He came to North America to get a head start on the 2026 FIFA World Cup. 

He spoke to the media ahead of South Korea’s World Cup campaign and the revealing admission from the Reds captain should grab the attention of anyone who wonders why global soccer superstars choose MLS to continue their careers. 

“I came to the U.S. because the World Cup is being held in the U.S.,” Son said. 

The incredibly telling response speaks directly to Sonny’s long-term preparation for this summer’s tournament. 

While many of South Korea’s national team players are arriving from Europe and Asia to navigate the unique demands of a super-sized World Cup featuring 48 teams spread across 16 host cities in three different countries, Sonny has already spent the better part of a year living it. 

His home turf is now L.A., which is where South Korea could play if they finish second in Group A. But first, their three group stage matches against Czechia, Mexico and South Africa will all be played in Mexico, a country that Sonny is uniquely familiar with thanks to the CONCACAF Champions Cup. 

In fact, Sonny was spotted enjoying Mexican street tacos in Puebla in April. 

So Sonny is no stranger to the relentless travel that comes with playing in the MLS. He’s dealt with the changing climates, the heat and humidity in different cities across the U.S. he’s played in most of the cities and stadiums that the World Cup matches will be played in. Most importantly, he’s already faced one of the biggest challenges awaiting the teams in Group A: Mexico’s altitude. 

“In Mexico, it was not easy if I’m being honest,” admitted Son. “All the different conditions. We’re training in Salt Lake City to adjust to the altitude in Mexico.”

For all the marketing and billions of dollars in economic impact surrounding the expanded World Cup, one uncomfortable reality remains with hosting a tournament of this size, scale, and magnitude. Not every city or venue offers equal conditions. 

Guadalajara is 5,200 feet above sea level. Mexico City is more than 7,000. Players can prepare all they want, but the first encounter with altitude usually delivers the same painful lesson: nothing can replicate it. 

Sonny not only knows that firsthand, but was the catalyst for the Korean national team to train in altitude in Salt Lake City ahead of their base camp in Guadalajara. 

“Playing at high altitude was honestly not easy,” he said. “We were wearing GPS devices and checking the game data, and we could clearly see that playing at high altitude was more difficult than playing under normal conditions.”

What stands out isn’t simply that Sonny experienced those conditions. It’s what he plans to do with that knowledge.

While many superstars spend World Cup media sessions discussing goals, records and legacy, he repeatedly shifted the conversation toward helping his teammates.

Sonny said he would share his experiences playing in North America directly with the national team players. His unique experience and knowledge is invaluable. In many ways, he’s become South Korea’s advance scout. 

Now that’s the kind of leadership you want from your captain. 

“Soccer is not a sport you play alone,” Son said. “Throughout my career, I have always thought that, more than myself, my teammates are the most important.”

That fact was even more evident when Son was asked about the possibility of becoming South Korea’s all-time leading goal scorer in World Cup history. He’s currently tied with Ahn Jung-hwan and Park Ji-sung. One more goal and he will become the all-time leader. But when asked about it, he once again repeated that soccer is a time sport, not an individual sport.

For a player with nearly two decades of experience playing at the game’s highest levels, it would be easy for Sonny to chase individual milestones. 

Instead, he’s more interested in attaining something bigger. 

At 34 years old, this could be his final World Cup. He said he didn’t know when asked if this would be his last, but one thing he acknowledged is the feeling he gets when he puts on his nation’s kit for a World Cup match has never wavered. 

“I always feel like a child when I get to represent my amazing country,” said Son. “As a soccer player, it’s a dream to play in the World Cup. It doesn’t matter how many you’ve played in. It feels like a dream.”

Sonny still talks about the tournament the same way he did when he was a little kid watching from home.

He was just two years old the last time the World Cup was played on U.S. soil and South Korea stunned Spain with a 2-2 draw in their opening match. And despite all the expectations and pressure of an entire nation behind him, he still is able to put that in perspective.

“The World Cup is a festival,” he said. “My goal is to help create a culture where people can truly enjoy that festival.”

In an era when the World Cup often feels consumed by corporate hospitality packages, luxury suites and billion-dollar sponsorship deals, there is something refreshing about hearing one of the sport’s biggest stars describe it that way.

The tournament may belong to the world.

But Sonny;s preparation for it started nearly a year ago when he made the decision to come to Los Angeles. 

Now South Korea is hoping that investment pays off when the World Cup begins. 

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