Son keeping 'fired-up' S Koreans calm as World Cup kicks off

MEXICO CITY, June 11 (AFP): South Korea captain Son Heung-min said on Wednesday his teammates were so excited about their World Cup opener against the Czech Republic he could "feel it in their eyes". He will lead out his side on Friday in the tournament's second match.

"The guys are so fired-up for this match, and I actually have to calm them down," Son said at the pre-match press conference in Guadalajara.

"I hope our hard work will bear fruit, and I think we absolutely deserve it. The vibe is tremendous, and I can feel it from the eyes of my teammates.

"Every World Cup match is so important that, as a player, you would stake your life on it. Tomorrow, we will give everything we've got and more."

Former Tottenham star Son, 33, comes into his fourth and possibly his last World Cup after a poor season for his new club, Los Angeles FC, scoring just twice. He said his excitement for football's global showpiece never dimmed.

"My mindset is similar, whether it's my first or last World Cup. I feel like a child again," he said.

"I have never once said this is my last World Cup. The most important thing is to do my job. People can say whatever they want, and I will choose my path wisely."

Meanwhile, the US, Mexico and Canada organised sprawling tournament of 48 teams is the biggest World Cup in history, stretching until the final in New Jersey on July 19.

It is projected to generate a record-breaking $13 billion in total revenue but football's world governing body FIFA has faced stinging criticism over the eye-watering costs of tickets while Donald Trump's immigration crackdown has seen a top referee, Iranian team officials and fans refused entry to the United States.

Speaking in Mexico City on Wednesday, FIFA President Gianni Infantino launched a spirited defense of the organisation of the tournament and brushed off criticism over visa issues.

Infantino insisted that tickets -- which in some cases have topped $30,000 -- had been priced appropriately, citing a small number of $60 tickets that were made available in response to criticism.

"Let me just say that our entry price, which is 60 dollars, is the lowest entry price of any of the American sports in the play-off phases," Infantino said.

"Our average price which is below 500 dollars is again the lowest of the American sports on average."

Infantino also played down the controversy surrounding Somali World Cup referee Omar Artan, who was refused entry to the United States after arriving in Miami last Saturday following security concerns raised by US immigration authorities.

Infantino's close relationship with US President Trump has also come under scrutiny but the FIFA chief maintained that without Trump, there would not have been a World Cup in the United States.

"Without his engagement and involvement, I think it would have been, simple as that, impossible to organise a World Cup in the United States," Infantino said of Trump.

Trump confirmed on Wednesday he plans to attend some World Cup matches, without providing details.