During Son Heung-min's introduction to his new club, Los Angeles FC, councilwoman Heather Hutt expressed her hopes for the team's success in the upcoming World Cup, seemingly unaware that Son plays for South Korea. "When the World Cup comes to America next year, we hope to win here in Los Angeles, for America. Don’t we all?", Hutt said. "So, we are here to support you to get that done."
Son appeared puzzled but responded with a smile and a nod. The crowd remained silent for a moment after Hutt's remarks. The 66-year-old politician's comments implied a desire for Son to lead the US to victory in the 2026 World Cup, seemingly overlooking the fact that the tournament is for national teams and Son represents South Korea.
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Son Heung-min during his LAFC introduction in Los Angeles, California, USA, 6/8/2025. Photo: LAFC |
Son Heung-min during his LAFC introduction in Los Angeles, California, USA, 6/8/2025. Photo: LAFC
Hutt has been a member of the Los Angeles City Council representing the 10th District since 2022. The district includes Koreatown, which may explain her presence at Son's unveiling. After her speech, she presented the 33-year-old star with a gift.
A video of Hutt's comments quickly went viral on social media, garnering millions of views. One Reddit user, Neither_Exitjusbreg, commented, "She just lost the entire Korean vote in District 10", a sentiment that received thousands of upvotes.
During the introduction, Son admitted that LAFC wasn't his initial choice for this transfer window. However, a call from the club's president changed his mind. At LAFC, Son will reunite with goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, his teammate for 9 years at Tottenham.
When asked about Lloris, Son joked: "Of course I have to say good things about him, he’s my captain in Tottenham and LAFC", the South Korean captain said. "Otherwise, he will kick my backside in the locker room."
Son and Lloris once nearly had a physical altercation on the pitch just before halftime during a Premier League match in 2020. The French goalkeeper appeared frustrated with Son's lack of defensive effort. Despite the incident, the two players quickly reconciled.
Compiled by Hoang An.
