South Korea began its FIFA World Cup 2026 Group A campaign with a hard-fought victory, recovering from a second-half setback to defeat the Czech Republic 2-1 in Guadalajara.
The result gives South Korea an early boost in a group where every point could prove decisive. After a goalless first half, the match opened up dramatically after the break, forcing the Korean side to respond under pressure.
Captain Son Heung-min was involved in several promising attacks before halftime, but South Korea struggled to convert possession into goals. The deadlock remained intact until the Czech Republic found a breakthrough midway through the second half.
Czech Republic Strikes First, Korea Responds
Ladislav Krejci put the Czech Republic ahead in the 59th minute with a header, leaving South Korea chasing the game.
The lead, however, lasted only eight minutes.
Hwang In-beom restored parity in the 67th minute with a composed finish, shifting momentum back toward the Asian side. The Czech Republic thought it had regained control when Tomas Soucek found the net, but the goal was ruled out for offside.
That decision proved costly.
South Korea seized the opportunity moments later as Hwang turned provider. His pass found substitute Oh Hyeon-gyu, who converted from close range to complete the turnaround and put Korea 2-1 ahead.
The Korean defence then held firm through the closing stages to secure all three points.
Strong Start in a Tight Group
The victory places South Korea alongside Mexico at the top of Group A after the opening round of matches.
- South Korea – 3 points
- Mexico – 3 points
- Czech Republic – 0 points
- South Africa – 0 points
Mexico, one of the tournament co-hosts, defeated South Africa 2-0 in the group’s other match.
With both teams level on points, attention now turns to the upcoming meeting between South Korea and Mexico, a fixture that could shape the race for qualification. The Czech Republic, still searching for its first points, will face South Africa as it looks to revive its campaign.
