South Korea began their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Czechia in Guadalajara. The Asian side rallied from a goal down in the second half to claim all three points in their Group A opener. This result puts them in a strong position as the tournament progresses.
First Half Stalemate
The opening half saw South Korea dominate possession and create the clearer opportunities, but they were unable to convert their chances. Captain Son Heung-min had several opportunities, including a one-on-one situation in the 55th minute, but Czechia goalkeeper Matěj Kovář made crucial saves to keep the score level. Despite South Korea's technical prowess, Czechia remained disciplined and compact in defence, frustrating their opponents' attacking efforts. Both teams headed into the interval with the score goalless, much to the dissatisfaction of some sections of the crowd.
Czechia Strike First
The deadlock was broken shortly before the hour mark, against the run of play, when Czechia took the lead in the 59th minute. Captain Ladislav Krejčí rose highest to meet a long throw-in from Vladimír Coufal, powerfully heading the ball past Kim Seung-gyu. This set-piece goal highlighted Czechia's aerial threat and their ability to capitalise on direct play. The goal served as a wake-up call for the South Korean side, who had controlled much of the game up to that point.
Korean Comeback
South Korea responded swiftly, equalising just eight minutes later in the 67th minute. Hwang In-beom received a decisive pass from Lee Kang-in before showing composure to chip the ball over Kovář, bringing his side back into the contest. The momentum shifted firmly in favour of the Taegeuk Warriors, who continued to press for a winner. Their persistence paid off in the 80th minute when substitute Oh Hyeon-gyu scored the decisive goal. Hwang In-beom turned provider, delivering a low cross from the right flank for Oh, who finished from close range to complete the comeback. Oh Hyeon-gyu had replaced Son Heung-min earlier in the second half, a substitution that proved impactful.
Key Moments and Group Impact
Beyond the goals, there were other significant moments in the match. Czechia thought they had retaken the lead in the 77th minute when Tomáš Souček headed home a free-kick, but the goal was correctly ruled out for offside after a tight decision. South Korea's Lee Gi-hyeok received a yellow card in the 90+6th minute. The victory marks South Korea's first opening World Cup win since 2010 and their third consecutive World Cup win against European opposition. This result places South Korea level on points with Mexico in Group A after the opening fixtures, setting up an intriguing battle for qualification to the knockout stages. Czechia, despite the loss, will look to regroup for their next fixture against South Africa. You can follow the latest developments in the /standings here.
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