With 11 days left until the 2026 World Cup, the South Korean national team is urgently seeking the help of Hua Tuo (a renowned traditional Chinese medicine practitioner).

The South Korean national team is urgently seeking a legendary strategist; three North American nations are forming a Red Cliff alliance; Neymar is facing a headache like Yuan Shao... These are some of the stories in today's countdown to the 2026 World Cup.

The South Korean national team is urgently looking for Hua Tuo.

The South Korean national team is training in Salt Lake City, USA, in preparation for the 2026 World Cup. However, what's noteworthy isn't the tactical training, but rather their rather unusual physical recovery method. Perhaps only the legendary physician Hua Tuo could have devised such an Eastern-style approach.

Immediately after each training session, South Korean players are required to soak themselves in a tub of water at around 40 degrees Celsius instead of the usual ice water tubs used in top-level football.

Typically, the South Korean national team prioritizes cold therapy to reduce muscle pain and aid recovery after high-intensity exercise. However, the coaching staff of the South Korean team has taken a different approach.

Illustrative image. Photo: ChatGPT

According to experts, Salt Lake City has significantly lower temperatures than many other venues at the 2026 World Cup. Therefore, soaking in hot water is seen as a way to help players' bodies gradually adapt to the hotter environment, reducing the risk of heatstroke when entering the tournament.

Furthermore, the South Korean national team employs an extremely detailed health monitoring system for its players. Each day, players undergo up to four physical checks, including heart rate, blood oxygen levels, weight, sleep patterns, and dehydration levels. If any abnormalities are detected, training and recovery plans are individually adjusted.

Besides the weather, Coach Hong Myung-bo's team also has to deal with the altitude issue. According to the schedule, the South Korean national team will play their first two group stage matches in Guadalajara, Mexico, located at an altitude of approximately 1,571 meters above sea level. The thin air conditions there could significantly impact the players' physical condition, forcing the medical team to develop a special nutrition and exercise adaptation program. Perhaps they need to consult the ancient texts of Hua Tuo to devise a countermeasure.

Three North American countries form a Red Cliffs-style alliance to fight Ebola.

In addition to preparing infrastructure and security, the co-hosting countries of the 2026 World Cup are also particularly vigilant about the risk of disease outbreaks. On May 28, the United States, Canada, and Mexico simultaneously announced a coordinated health mechanism related to the travel of individuals from African regions at high risk of Ebola outbreaks.

This needs to be done synchronously to combat disease from the miasma. If only one or two countries do it, it will be very difficult to succeed, so all three countries need to work together, like Cao Cao building ships at the Battle of Red Cliffs to train his navy to avoid seasickness.

The joint statement emphasized that the top priority is protecting the safety of citizens, athletes, tourists, and the millions of fans who will flock to North America during the World Cup.

Although the full details of the measures have not yet been announced, this move comes after the World Health Organization declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo a global health emergency and warned of the risk of it spreading to neighboring countries.

The U.S. has even implemented stricter entry restrictions for those who have been to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, or South Sudan within the past 21 days.

Health officials are also developing rapid response plans to minimize the risk of disease outbreaks affecting the world's biggest sporting event.

The 2026 World Cup is therefore not only a top-level football competition but also a major test of healthcare, technology, and organization in a world still facing many uncertainties.

Neymar is having a headache like Yuan Shao.

While racing against time to recover from a calf injury, Neymar is facing another complicated off-field "battle." According to Brazilian media, the 1992-born star is in a difficult situation involving his family, as he wants all his children to be in the US to support him at the 2026 World Cup.

This will most likely be Neymar's last World Cup, so the Brazilian striker is hoping to be surrounded by his family during this special moment.

Neymar currently has children with three different women. Besides his son Davi Lucca with Carol Dantas, he has two daughters, Mavie and Mel, with his current girlfriend Bruna Biancardi. He also has a daughter, Helena, with Amanda Kimberlly.

Neymar's situation is not unlike Yuan Shao's, having to deal with the headaches of Yuan Dan, Yuan Xi, and Yuan Shang. They are all his children, so he can't favor one over the other, and then there's the added complication of the imperial harem interfering in the government, making everything even more chaotic.

Helena's presence is making the situation sensitive. Because she is so young, Amanda Kimberlly would almost certainly have to accompany Helena if she went to the US. However, a close source revealed that Bruna Biancardi is uncomfortable with this possibility and does not want Amanda to be present on the trip with the Neymar family.

What worries Neymar is that if Helena doesn't show up with her siblings at the World Cup, he could continue to face criticism from the Brazilian public.

Source: https://danviet.vn/world-cup-2026-con-11-ngay-dt-han-quoc-tim-gap-hoa-da-d1430901.html