Hong Myung-bo is expecting the atmosphere to feel like a home game when his South Korea team play South Africa in their last World Cup Group A encounter in Monterrey.

A large number of Mexican fans supported the Taeguk Warriors when they defeated the Czech Republic 2-1 in the opening game in Guadalajara, and head coach Hong expects similar support on Wednesday.

“We may feel like this is our home ground tomorrow, and that is a very big gift to our players,” said Hong, who was captain of the South Korea team that reached the semi-finals when it co-hosted the 2002 World Cup with Japan. “We will use that very well so we can play a good game tomorrow.”

There’s a strong reason for the support.

In the 2018 World Cup, South Korea upset Germany 2-0 to send Mexico into the round of 16 and Mexican fans famously marched to South Korea’s consulate in Monterrey to celebrate, chanting “Coreano, hermano, ya eres Mexicano [Korean brother, you are now Mexican]!”

Since then, football fans from the two nations have developed a bond despite a difference in cultures.