South Korea stage late comeback to beat Czechia on World Cup opening day | World Cup 2026 News
South Korea Comes from Behind to Defeat Czechia in World Cup Match
Zapopan, Mexico — South Korea staged a comeback to defeat Czechia 2-1 in their second Group A match of the FIFA World Cup 2026 on Thursday night at Guadalajara Stadium.
After a lackluster first half, in which both teams were met with boos as they left the field, Czechia took the lead in the 59th minute. Captain Ladislav Krejci headed in a goal following a long throw-in, putting Czechia ahead.
However, South Korea equalized in the 67th minute. Hwang In-beom faked a shot, evading two defenders before scoring. He later assisted Oh Hyeon-gyu’s decisive goal in the 80th minute, securing the win for South Korea. This match was contested in front of an announced attendance of 44,985, despite many empty seats in the stadium.
South Korea, ranked 25th in the world, maintained more possession and produced a higher number of shots compared to the 38th-ranked Czech team, which is participating in its first World Cup since 2006. Star forward Son Heung-min played a key role in South Korea’s offensive efforts.
Earlier in the day, Mexico celebrated a strong start to their World Cup campaign, defeating nine-man South Africa 2-0 at Estadio Azteca.
Following their matches, Mexico leads Group A with three points, while South Korea sits second on goal difference. Czechia is in third, and South Africa remains at the bottom. The next round of Group A matches is set for June 18, with Mexico facing South Korea and Czechia playing South Africa.
The top two teams from each of the 12 groups, along with the eight best third-placed teams, will progress to the knockout stage, which begins with a round of 32.
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