South Korea vs El Salvador Prediction: Son to shine in Sandy as Taeguk Warriors finalise World Cup preparations

South Korea and El Salvador face off in an international friendly at America First Field in Sandy, Utah (Wednesday 7pm local, Thursday 2am BST), with the former finalising their preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America.

Below are my South Korea vs El Salvador predictions, alongside all the latest team news and match odds.

Team News

This is South Korea's final friendly before they get their World Cup campaign underway on 12 June against the Czech Republic, so expect Hong Myung-bo to go strong here.

All-time appearance-maker Son Heung-min, who is two goals away from equalling South Korea’s all-time scoring record held by Cha Bum-kun (58 goals), should start again after bagging a brace in his side's 5-0 thrashing of Trinidad & Tobago last week.

PSG playmaker Lee Kang-in should receive playing time after missing the Taeguk Warriors' last game due to Les Parisiens' successful UEFA Champions League final against Arsenal.

Football Odds

As for Hernan Dario Gomez's El Salvador, most of the squad is based in their homeland, with USA-born Nathan Ordaz, who plays alongside Son at LAFC, one of the exceptions to the rule.

Head-to-head record

South Korea and El Salvador have met once before, playing out a 1-1 draw in an international friendly at Daejeon World Cup Stadium in June 2023.

South Korea vs El Salvador Odds

South Korea are 1/8 to win, implying an 88.9% probability of success, while El Salvador are 14/1, or a 6.7% chance, with the draw offered at 11/2.

Betfred have boosted South Korea to Win & 5+ Goals from 11/5 to 5/2.

Handicap +3 - El Salvador +3 @ 7/10

El Salvador were slapped 4-0 and 3-0, respectively, by Suriname and Panama in their final two World Cup qualifiers last year, but those are the only two occasions in their last 27 games that they have lost by more than two goals, since a 3-0 defeat to world champions Argentina in March 2024.

Arguably, El Salvador haven't played a team as good as South Korea since that reverse to La Albiceleste, with Canada, who they lost 2-0 to in the group stage of the 2025 Gold Cup, probably as tough as it has gotten, but I think they can keep the score down here.

South Korea pumped Trinidad & Tobago 5-0 last week, but for what it's worth, the Soca Warriors (102nd) are two places lower than El Salvador (100th) in the FIFA World Rankings, and the Taeguk Warriors may take things slightly easier in their final friendly before the World Cup, with their players desperate to avoid an injury at the final hurdle.

First Goalscorer - Son Heung-min @ 9/4

South Korea have scored first in five of their last nine games, and Son, who started seven of those, opened the scoring on three occasions, including in last week's win over Trinidad & Tobago.

He may not be in the best of goalscoring form at club level, but for his country, he's still as reliable as ever, and if he starts against El Salvador, he's an obvious shout for first goalscorer.