Son Heung-min Heads to Pochettino’s Backyard: A Sentimental September Awaits

It’s a reunion that may tug at the heartstrings of Tottenham Hotspur fans — albeit indirectly.

South Korea, under the stewardship of head coach Hong Myung-bo, are set to face CONCACAF giants USA and Mexico this September in a high-profile pair of friendlies on American soil — and that means Son Heung-min could be facing off against his former manager Mauricio Pochettino’s national roots.

The Taegeuk Warriors will first take on the United States on September 6 at 17:00 local time (September 7, 06:00 KST) at Red Bull Arena in New Jersey. Just three days later, they will clash with Mexico on September 9, with the venue and kickoff time to be confirmed.

These fixtures mark Korea’s first overseas friendlies in two years, following their last international tour to the UK in September 2023, where they met Wales and Saudi Arabia.

The showdown against the USA will be the first in over a decade, with their last meeting dating back to February 2014 in Los Angeles. Despite the Americans currently sitting 16th in the FIFA rankings (compared to Korea’s 23rd), the historical head-to-head favors Korea, with five wins, three draws, and three losses.

Against Mexico, currently ranked 17th in the world, it will be the first meeting since a 2020 friendly in Wiener Neustadt, Austria. Korea have won four, drawn two, and lost eight of their previous encounters, including World Cup defeats in both 1998 and 2018 — leaving fans hungry for redemption.

A Familiar Face in the Opponent’s Camp?
While Pochettino is not officially affiliated with the U.S. or Mexican national teams, the emotional narrative of Son Heung-min — who rose to global prominence under Poch’s leadership at Spurs — adds an extra layer of intrigue.

The Argentine tactician famously transformed Tottenham Hotspur during his time in North London and built a deep bond with Son, helping the Korean forward evolve into one of Europe’s most feared attackers. Their time together included a run to the Champions League final in 2019, with Son a vital piece of that journey.

Now, as Son leads his nation on a mission to fine-tune preparations for the 2026 World Cup, hosted in the very continent of his former manager, the symbolism is hard to ignore. A metaphorical reunion, perhaps — one where Son aims to shine once again on North American soil.

What’s Next?
Before the September friendlies, Korea will conclude their Round 3 Asian World Cup qualifiers with two crucial matches:

June 5 (Away) vs. Iraq

June 10 (Home) vs. Kuwait

Head coach Hong Myung-bo is expected to announce his squad on May 26, with Son Heung-min likely to headline a team aiming to finish qualifiers strong before turning their attention to the marquee clashes with the U.S. and Mexico.

Could these September fixtures serve as Son’s final North American tune-up before the 2026 World Cup? Will he channel the spirit of his Pochettino-led Spurs days to lead Korea to victory? One thing is clear — the reunion, however symbolic, is one to watch.