"Skipped Work and Spread Out Picnic Mats!" Red Tide Takes Over Gwanghwamun at 9 a.m. ... 20,000 Crowd Gathers Ahead of Mexico Match in 'Calm Before the Storm'

[Financial News] Early in the morning, the usual rush-hour commute was turned upside down. Even the scorching sun and stifling humidity could not stop the fierce thirst for the Taeguk Warriors. The cheers of the Red Devils, who are hoping for back-to-back away wins in the group stage for the first time in 16 years and an early clinch of first place in the group, swallowed up the heart of Seoul.
On the morning of the 19th, as the South Korea national football team, led by Hong Myung-bo, prepared to face Mexico in the second Group A match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul was transformed into a giant furnace of football fans in red jerseys as kickoff approached.

With kickoff at 10 a.m. just an hour away, more than 2,300 people, according to police estimates, had already turned the square red. The Korea Football Association (KFA) and the Red Devils said the crowd would swell rapidly as time passed, with as many as 20,000 supporters expected to gather. Depending on the situation, they are also considering expanding the cheering zone to include the nearby eight-lane road.
The energy at the scene had already surpassed midsummer heat. To secure good spots, citizens spread out picnic mats early in the morning and sat watching the giant screen with portable fans in one hand and ion drinks and gimbap in the other. Teenagers who said they had stayed up all night to come to the site shouted, "A 2-1 Pelescore win for Korea," raising the excitement even higher. A salaried worker in his 30s, who said he had held down the front row since the Czech Republic match, did not hide his confidence, saying, "Today, captain Son Heung-min will explode for a hat trick and lead us to a 3-0 win."

That passion even erased borders. Fans from Mexico also drew attention as they stepped into the heart of the opposing camp wearing Mexican flags. Jordi and Mario, two Mexicans who said they came after seeing Korea's street cheering culture on Social Network Service (SNS), predicted a win for their team but still gave a thumbs-up, saying, "Regardless of the result, we want to enjoy this incredible energy together."
As tens of thousands of red-clad supporters poured in, nearby businesses also saw a windfall. Burger shops had long lines even before opening, while restaurants selling toast and gimbap were letting out happy cries as orders flooded in from the morning.
This festival is not limited to Gwanghwamun. Yeouido, the financial heart of South Korea, is also buzzing. At the outdoor cheering stage set up by Korea Investment & Securities, the so-called "necktie brigade" of office workers in their 40s and 50s is expected to arrive during lunch break, ties flying as they rush in. South Korea has set aside its busy daily routine for a moment and come together as one. The giant red roar toward Mexico has already begun.
jsi@fnnews.com Jeon Sang-il Reporter