South Korea kicked off their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign with an impressive 2-1 comeback victory over Czechia in Group A on Thursday at Guadalajara Stadium in Mexico.
After a quiet and goalless first half, the match burst into life during the second period as both teams battled for a crucial opening win. Despite controlling possession and creating more chances throughout the game, South Korea found themselves trailing when Czechia struck first.
In the 59th minute, Czech captain Ladislav Krejčí rose highest inside the penalty area to head home from a long throw-in delivered by Vladimír Coufal, giving the Europeans a surprise lead.
South Korea responded quickly and showed their attacking quality just eight minutes later. Midfielder Hwang In-beom produced a brilliant individual effort, evading two defenders before calmly finishing past goalkeeper Matěj Kovář to level the score at 1-1 in the 67th minute.
The Asian side continued to push forward in search of a winner and completed the comeback in the 80th minute. Substitute striker Oh Hyeon-gyu finished from close range after a perfectly placed low cross from Hwang In-beom, sealing all three points for South Korea.
The victory was fully deserved based on South Korea’s overall performance. They dominated possession with 62 percent of the ball, recorded 15 total shots compared to Czechia’s 8, and completed significantly more passes throughout the match.
Star forward Son Heung-min played a key role in South Korea’s attacking pressure, although he was unable to find the net despite several opportunities. Instead, Hwang In-beom emerged as the standout performer, scoring one goal and assisting another to inspire his team’s comeback.
For Czechia, the defeat was a disappointing start to their first World Cup appearance since 2006. While their direct style of play caused occasional problems, they struggled to create clear chances and were ultimately unable to withstand South Korea’s sustained pressure.
Following the result, South Korea moved level on points with co-hosts Mexico at the top of Group A after Mexico defeated South Africa earlier on opening day. Czechia and South Africa remain without points and will look to bounce back in their next matches.
South Korea will now prepare for a highly anticipated showdown against Mexico on June 18, while Czechia faces South Africa in a match that could prove crucial for their hopes of advancing to the knockout stage.
The win gives South Korea an excellent start to the tournament and strengthens belief that they could become one of the surprise teams of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
