Both sides start their World Cup warm-up in Milton Keynes

International football returns to Milton Keynes on Saturday when South Korea take on Ivory Coast at Stadium MK.

Both sides kick off their World Cup warm-up with the friendly at MK1, and both have named strong squads in preparation for the competition in America, Canada and Mexico in the summer.

Korea, ranked 22nd in the world, have been drawn in a group against hosts Mexico, South Africa and the winner of a play-off between Ireland, Czech Republic, Denmark and North Macedonia. Ivory Coast, who are ranked 37th in the world, meanwhile face Germany, Curacao and Ecuador.

No strangers to hosting international games, Stadium MK has hosted England U21s, Brazil against Cameroon in 2018, as well as games in the Women’s Euros in 2022 and England Lionesses in 2023 when they took on Australia.

Amongst the squads include players from Bayern Munich, Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain and Monaco, while Korean skipper Heung-min Son, now at LAFC, returns to MK1 for a third appearance, having twice played there for Tottenham Hotspur.

Korea eased to World Cup qualification with 11 wins and five draws to their name across two group stages, scoring 40 goals and conceding just eight.

In January, Ivory Coast reached the quarter-finals of the controversial Africa Cup of Nations, where they lost to Egypt 3-2. Emerse Fae’s side cruised through their World Cup qualifying group unbeaten in ten matches, winning eight and drawing two, scoring 25 and not conceding at all.

Tickets for the game on Saturday (kicking off at 2pm) are priced from £25 for adults and £15 for children U16. Click here to buy