South Korea defender Kim Tae-hyeon cleared for World Cup group stage match

South Korea's defender Kim Tae-hyeon has been cleared to participate in the team's upcoming FIFA World Cup group stage match against Mexico. Kim had sustained an ankle injury that initially raised concerns he might miss the group stage, but the injury was diagnosed as less severe than first believed, allowing him to rejoin the squad. Spain's national team is also reporting full strength ahead of their World Cup opener against Cape Verde. Key players Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams have returned to training, as has forward Víctor Muñoz. However, Barcelona midfielder Fermín López is sidelined with a fractured foot. In a concerning development, Mexican authorities are investigating the discovery of a body in a bag found outside a stadium in Tijuana. This stadium is currently being used by Iran's national soccer team as a training base for the World Cup. The team's use of Tijuana is attributed to visa and travel restrictions. Separately, FIFA has offered an explanation for empty seats observed at a World Cup match in Guadalajara. The organization stated that fans were watching from concourses, contributing to the discrepancy between the announced attendance of 44,985 and the visible number of spectators in the stands. Similar seating issues were also noted at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara. Meanwhile, World Cup fans in Houston are contending with extreme heat, with temperatures approaching 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Attendees at fan festival events are employing various cooling strategies, including portable fans, umbrellas, and utilizing hydration stations. Organizers have implemented measures to mitigate the heat's impact, such as providing free sunscreen and establishing air-conditioned spaces for fan comfort.