South Korea vs El Salvador LIVE: Second half underway in the international friendly before 2026 World Cup! (0-0)

Koroleva blows her whistle to start the first half.

Possession: South Korea 64% | El Salvador 36%

Shots (On Target): South Korea 5 (1) | El Salvador 2 (0)

Fouls: South Korea 4 | El Salvador 7

Corners: South Korea 3 | El Salvador 1

After an entertained first half, Koroleva blew her whistle to end the first half.

Now, both teams have committed 15 fouls, 5 for South Korea and 10 for El Salvador. And that have led to first yellow card of the game for Cerritos.

Referee Katja Koroleva added 6 minutes.

After a frenetic start and an intense matchup, both teams have decided to slow things down, as the first half it's about to end.

South Korea 72%, El Salvador 28%.

From the defense to the offense, that's the play that El Salvador have been trying in the last couple of minutes, but South Korea are well-organized.

After a great run from his teammate, Heechan was in the penalty spot and almost scored, but El Salvador defended outstandingly.

Despite their lack of ball possession, they are trying through counterattacks, but in this occasion Flores made a bad decision and the pass in the area went far from his teammate that was alone to score.

After a promising start, El Salvador have lost the ball completely and South Korea want to score first.

While the Koreans try to keep the ball, El Salvador defend with everything they have on the field.

The same players take the field to continue the international friendly.

Both teams talk with the coaches, while hydrate.

El Salvador and South Korea are creating chances one-by-one, but the ball hasn't entered to any of the goals.

Both teams have prefered to make some fouls at this point, with 7 already, 2 for South Korea and 5 four El Salvador.

South Korea 70%, El Salvador 30%.

El Salvador are not leaving clear spaces on the defense and when they create chances, South Korea struggle. However, they got a corner with a great ball possession.

Through fouls to South Korea's area, El Salvador want to create dangerous situations.

In a counterattack, Heechan stole the ball from El Salvador's defender and despite having a teammate, the ball didn't get there and the goalkeeper of El Salvador took it.

After the corner, South Korea' captain created danger for the left side of the field, but El Salvador defended outstandingly for another corner kick.

Without having control of the ball, El Salvador have created danger in South Korea's area, but a free kick from the Asian team has been created. It ended in the first corner kick of the game.

Despite the couple of tries that South Korea have created, El Salvador's defense have made an outstanding job so far.

With El Salvador trying to press their defense, South Korea started to take control of the ball, as they want the first goal of the game.

The referee blows his whistle and the match starts.

Both teams are on the field for the protocolary acts in Utah.

Ahead of this international friendly, South Korea and El Salvador have played once on their whole history, and the game ended 1-1 on June 20, 2023.

BYU South Field—nestled on the Provo campus of Brigham Young University—stands firmly as one of the premier college soccer venues in the United States. While the facility serves as the permanent fortress for the university's powerhouse women’s soccer and rugby programs, it has recently vaulted into the international spotlight, playing host to the South Korea men's national team as they wrap up their crucial pre-World Cup friendly slate against El Salvador, with a capacity of 4.200 spectators.

The match will be officiated by an American crew, appointed to lead this international friendly at BYU South Field.

• Main Referee: Katja Koroleva (USA)

• Assistant Referee 1: Jennifer Garner (USA)

• Assistant Referee 2: Meghan Mullen (USA)

• Fourth Official: Natalie Simon (USA)

South Korea's starting XI: Kim Seuhggyu; Kim Minjae, Lee Taeseok, Lee Jaesung, Lee Gihyuk; Lee Donggyeong, Cho Guesung, Seol Youngwoo; Lee Hanbeom, Hwang Heechan, Hwang Ihbeom.

El Salvador's starting XI: Gonzalez; Sibrian, Clavel, Cruz, Valladares; Cerritos, Martinez, Diaz, Florez; Ordaz, Vasquez.

Welcome to our live blog! This time, South Korea will play against El Salvador in an international friendly as the Taeguk Warriors continue their preparations ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Stay with us for all the action and minute‑by‑minute updates of this matchup at BYU South Field in Utah.