South Korea vs Czechia: World Cup group match – teams, start and lineups | World Cup 2026 News
South Korea to Face Czechia in FIFA World Cup Opener
Who: South Korea vs. Czechia
What: FIFA World Cup 2026 Group A Match
Where: Estadio Guadalajara, Zapopan, Mexico
When: Thursday at 8 p.m. local time (02:00 GMT Friday)
How to Follow: Updates available on Al Jazeera Sport
South Korea, regarded as Asia’s most successful team in World Cup history, begins its 2026 campaign against Czechia, who returns to the tournament after a two-decade absence.
With a talented lineup that includes stars like Son Heung-min, Lee Kang-in, and Kim Min-jae, South Korea, currently ranked 25th in the world, enters this Group A clash as the favorite. The team is eager to secure an early victory in a challenging group that also features co-hosts Mexico and South Africa.
Czechia, ranked 40th, brings its own capabilities to the match. Players such as Adam Hlozek, Patrik Schick, and Pavel Sulc could pose a significant challenge to their opponents.
As always, attention will focus on South Korea’s captain, Son Heung-min, who now plays for Los Angeles FC. The 33-year-old, making his fourth World Cup appearance, is expected to be a key player. Fans are hopeful for a standout performance, particularly after he netted two goals in a recent friendly.
South Korea advanced to the last 16 in 2022, where Hwang Hee-chan scored a dramatic winner against Portugal. The Wolverhampton Wanderers forward hopes to replicate that success. “Every match is important, but the first match is especially so,” said Hwang.
Czechia, known for its illustrious history as Czechoslovakia, reached the finals in 1934 and 1962 but has struggled in recent tournaments, with only four appearances since. Their last significant run was a quarterfinal finish in 1990. Following a challenging qualification campaign, the team managed to secure its return through dramatic penalty shootouts.
Under the guidance of Coach Miroslav Koubek, who was appointed in December 2025, Czechia turned its fortunes around, displayed remarkable resilience, and finished qualifiers strong. The squad features tall striker Tomas Chory, along with Euro 2020 top-scorer Schick and experienced players like Tomas Soucek and Vladimir Darida—key contributors to their strategy against South Korea.
The group stage format for the tournament includes four teams—South Korea, Czechia, Mexico, and South Africa. The top two teams from each of the 12 groups, alongside the eight best third-placed teams, will progress to the newly introduced round of 32.
In their previous encounters, South Korea and Czechia have recorded one win each in addition to one draw. Their last meeting occurred in June 2016, when South Korea won 2-1 in a friendly match in Prague.
Recent Form
South Korea: W-W-L-L-W
Czechia: W-W-W-W-W
Czechia enters the match in good form, having triumphed over Kosovo and Guatemala in pre-World Cup friendlies. They also executed successful penalty shootouts against Denmark and Ireland during qualifying.
In contrast, South Korea has shown mixed results. They have secured wins against El Salvador and Trinidad and Tobago but endured defeats to Austria and Ivory Coast.
Broadcast Information
The match will be available for viewing in South Korea on Chzzk and JTBC, with kickoff at 11 a.m. local time on Friday. In Czechia, CT Sport Plus, CT Sport, and Nova Action will broadcast the game, beginning at 4 a.m. local time on Friday. UK viewers can catch the action on ITV, while audiences in the United States can tune in to Fox.
Team News
Coach Koubek faces a selection dilemma with Hlozek recovering from injury, and both Sulc and Lukas Provod competing for attacking roles alongside Schick. In South Korea’s camp, Coach Hong Myung-bo is monitoring the fitness of winger Bae Jun-ho, who is doubtful due to an ankle injury. Meanwhile, left-back Lee Tae-seok has returned to team training following a calf issue.
Predicted Starting XI
South Korea: Kim Seung-gyu (GK); Kim Min-jae, Lee Han-beom, Lee Gi-hyuk; Seol Young-woo, Lee Tae-seok, Hwang In-beom, Paik Seung-ho; Lee Kang-in, Lee Jae-sung; Son Heung-min.
Czechia: Matej Kovar (GK); Vladimir Coufal, David Doudera, Tomas Holes, Ladislav Krejci, Jaroslav Zeleny; Tomas Soucek, Michal Sadilek; Adam Hlozek, Pavel Sulc, Patrik Schick.
For comprehensive match coverage, including live updates and commentary, visit Al Jazeera’s dedicated FIFA World Cup 2026 page.
