The first cars roll into the SoFi Stadium practice complex parking lot at 4:47 a.m., headlights cutting through the marine layer that settles over Inglewood most spring mornings. By 5:15, a line of sedans and minivans stretches along the access road, red scarves draped across dashboards, Taegukgi flags propped against rear windows. South Korea's training sessions at the stadium's northwest practice fields have become a pilgrimage for LA's Korean community, and the faithful arrive in darkness to claim their spots along the chain-link. The air smells of coffee from thermoses and the faint diesel of idling shuttle buses that have made the 12-mile run down the 405 from Koreatown since 4:30. Fathers carry folding chairs. Teenagers clutch replica jerseys. Everyone knows the drill by now—the week before the south africa vs south korea friendly has turned this corner of Inglewood into a Red Devils outpost, and the early birds get the sightlines.
The Parking Equation
The practice complex sits on the northwest quadrant of the SoFi property, accessible via a dedicated service road off Prairie Avenue. Stadium security opens the auxiliary lot at 5:30 a.m., but fans who arrive after 5:45 find themselves relegated to overflow parking near the Forum, adding a seven-minute walk. The prime spots—those closest to the practice field fence—fill within twelve minutes of gate opening. Regulars know to enter from the north entrance rather than looping through the main stadium approach, shaving three minutes off the route. Metro riders take the K Line to Hawthorne/Lennox Station, then catch the stadium shuttle or walk the fifteen minutes south along Prairie. The shuttle runs every twenty minutes starting at 5:00 a.m. during training weeks, and drivers have learned to recognize the scarves and jerseys, often holding an extra moment for sprinting stragglers. Street parking along Century Boulevard offers a free alternative, but the walk stretches to nearly a mile, and most fans consider the $10 lot fee a small price for proximity when Son Heung-min takes the pitch at 7:00 sharp.
The Sightline Sweet Spot
The northwest fence runs 120 yards along the main training pitch, but only a 40-yard section offers unobstructed views. The sweet spot lies between the equipment shed and the corner flag nearest the parking lot, where the fence stands alone without the visual interruption of storage containers or groundskeeping vehicles. Fans stake this section by 6:00 a.m., pressing against the chain-link with phone cameras ready. A small grass berm rises on the outside of the fence near the midfield line, and families spread blankets there, gaining an extra two feet of elevation that transforms the view. The far end of the fence, near the south goalpost, attracts the autograph hunters—players exit through a gate there after sessions, and the patient crowd that forms by 8:30 a.m. understands the calculus of proximity. Teenagers climb the berm's backside for elevated photos, and one resourceful group has taken to bringing a small stepladder, which security tolerates as long as it stays outside the fence line. The morning sun rises behind the watchers, lighting the pitch without glare, and by 6:45 the fence line hums with anticipation in Korean and English.
BCD Tofu House on Western
The pre-training ritual begins not in Inglewood but twelve miles north on Western Avenue, where BCD Tofu House opens at 5:00 a.m. and has become the unofficial staging ground for the training watch. Supporters gather in the fluorescent-lit dining room for haejang-guk and strong coffee, fueling up before the drive south. The restaurant's staff has grown accustomed to the red-jersey crowds, and the kitchen moves faster than usual during training weeks, understanding the timeline. Groups claim the large tables near the window, spreading out scarves and checking phones for traffic updates on the 405. Some fans order to-go containers—kimchi, rice, kimbap—tucking them into coolers for a post-training picnic in the parking lot. The restaurant sits exactly 10.7 miles from SoFi via the freeway, a drive that takes between 18 and 35 minutes depending on the morning's luck. By 5:40, the dining room empties in waves, and the caravan begins. The staff waves from the doorway, and more than one server has been spotted wearing a Red Devils scarf on their off-hours.
The Session Itself
Training begins with a lap around the pitch, players jogging in pairs, breath visible in the cool morning. The sound of studs on turf carries to the fence, a rhythmic percussion that quickens as the warm-up intensifies. Son Heung-min favors the left side of the pitch during possession drills, cutting inside repeatedly, his movement sharp even at three-quarter speed. The coaching staff sets up a series of cones near the top of the box, and the forwards run finishing patterns, each shot echoing off the goalposts with a metallic ring that fans have learned to read—the clean strike versus the mishit. Defenders work on the far pitch, and the sound of shouted instructions in Korean drifts across the grass. Goalkeeper drills draw cheers from the fence when a diving save sends up a spray of turf. The session runs ninety minutes, and the intensity builds toward the end, small-sided games that produce bursts of speed and the occasional collision. Fans along the fence call out names—"Son-ah!" "Hwang Hee-chan!"—and sometimes a player glances over mid-drill, offering a quick wave that sends ripples through the crowd.
The Player Window
The session ends at 8:30, and players walk toward the tunnel entrance near the south gate. The autograph crowd has swelled to forty or fifty by now, pens and jerseys ready. Son typically stops for five to seven minutes, signing methodically, moving down the line with practiced efficiency. Younger players linger longer, and Lee Kang-in has developed a reputation for selfies, holding phones at arm's length while fans press close. Security maintains a buffer, but the atmosphere stays relaxed—these are hometown fans, and the players seem to understand the gesture. Hwang Ui-jo signs a child's soccer ball, spinning it to find an unmarked panel. The window closes by 8:45, and the last players disappear into the tunnel, waving once more. The crowd disperses slowly, some fans clutching signed jerseys like relics, others reviewing phone videos of the drills. A few diehards remain at the fence, watching groundskeepers collect cones and drag nets, unwilling to let the morning end.
After the Session
The post-training ritual unfolds in parking lot tailgates and at nearby Inglewood spots that have learned to accommodate the influx. Some groups drive back to Koreatown, but others head to The Serving Spoon on Market Street for soul food, an unexpected crossover that has become tradition. The restaurant fills with red jerseys by 9:30, and the staff has started stocking extra coffee. Fans trade photos and debate formations, replaying the drills they watched. Others walk to Randy's Donuts on Manchester, the iconic giant donut sign providing a backdrop for post-training selfies. The neighborhood around SoFi has grown accustomed to the Tuesday and Thursday morning crowds, and local businesses have begun opening earlier. By 11:00 a.m., the Koreatown-to-Inglewood corridor quiets, but the buzz lingers—two more training days before south africa vs south korea kicks off, and the fence line will fill again before dawn.
Practical Notes
- Training sessions typically run 7:00–8:30 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays; arrive by 5:45 a.m. for prime fence spots
- Auxiliary parking lot opens at 5:30 a.m., $10 fee; overflow parking near the Forum adds a seven-minute walk
- Bring layers—Inglewood mornings start cold and warm quickly by 8:00 a.m.
- Metro K Line to Hawthorne/Lennox Station connects to stadium shuttle (every 20 minutes starting 5:00 a.m.) or 15-minute walk
Tags: #SoFiStadium #SouthKoreaTraining #InglewoodCA #Koreatown #SonHeungMin #RedDevils #SouthAfricaVsSouthKorea #LAKoreanCommunity #TrainingWatch #SoccerLA #KoreanNationalTeam #PreDawnPil
Sources consulted: fifa.com · timeout.com/los-angeles · discoverlosangeles.com
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Planning to catch South Korea's training at SoFi Stadium from Koreatown without getting stuck in Inglewood traffic or arriving after the prime fence positions are gone? Ask Karpo for confirmed public training times, the best SoFi Stadium access points from the 405, and what the Koreatown community circuit looks like around the venue.
