Korea Republic, Mexico open Group A with wins

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Korea Republic launched its FIFA World Cup 2026 Group A campaign with a 2-1 comeback win over Czechia on Thursday, June 11, at Guadalajara Stadium in Mexico.

Hwang Inbeom scored in the 67th minute and assisted Oh Hyeongyu’s 80th-minute winner after Czechia captain Ladislav Krejci opened the scoring in the 59th minute.

The match was played at 8 p.m. local time in Guadalajara.

Korea Republic had the better chances in the first half but failed to beat Czechia goalkeeper Matej Kovar.

Kovar stopped a fierce left-footed attempt from Lee Kangin in the 14th minute.

Son Heungmin sent two chances off target and narrowly missed another opportunity in first-half stoppage time.

Son was denied again 11 minutes into the second half as Kovar continued to keep Czechia level.

Czechia then struck against the run of play in the 59th minute.

Krejci met Vladimir Coufal’s long throw from the right and powered a header past Korea Republic goalkeeper Kim Seunggyu.

Hwang equalized eight minutes later after cutting inside and finishing from Lee Kangin’s pass.

Oh completed the turnaround in the 80th minute when he converted Hwang’s low ball from the right.

Czechia pressed late for an equalizer.

Adam Hlozek came closest in the 82nd minute, but Kim produced a key stop to preserve Korea Republic’s lead.

The victory gave Korea Republic a third consecutive World Cup win over European opposition, following a 2-1 win over Portugal in 2022 and a 2-0 win over Germany in 2018.

Krejci’s header was Czechia’s first World Cup goal in almost 20 years.

Czechia’s previous World Cup goal came on June 12, 2006, when Tomas Rosicky scored the third goal in a 3-0 group-stage win over the United States.

“It was our first game and a very difficult one. The win itself makes me happy, but what’s even more positive is that our boys won by not giving up. I knew that we were more than capable of winning, so at 1-1 I told the boys to keep playing the way we’ve been playing. Now, Mexico is another important match. We will spend the next week to prepare properly,” Korea Republic coach Hong Myungbo said.

“I cannot explain my emotions in words. My body temperature today had gone up to 38 degrees, because I wasn’t feeling well. I wondered if I could even play. It was possible thanks to our staff and the medical team,” Korea Republic forward Oh Hyeongyu said.

“We’re still getting used to the tactical approach. It’s also our first World Cup in a long time, so it’s only natural that nerves play a part. But the key for us is to stay compact defensively. We have to make it as difficult as possible for opponents to get to our goal,” Czechia captain Ladislav Krejci said.

In the other Group A match, Mexico opened the tournament with a 2-0 win over South Africa at Mexico City Stadium.

The match was played Thursday, June 11, at 1 p.m. local time.

Julian Quinones scored in the ninth minute and Raul Jimenez added a second goal in the 67th minute.

Mexico created the first clear chance inside five minutes.

Israel Reyes crossed from the right, and Jimenez forced South Africa goalkeeper Ronwen Williams to tip the bouncing ball around the post.

Mexico broke through when Erik Lira won the adidas Trionda from Sphephelo Sithole, allowing Quinones to finish through Williams’ legs from just inside the box.

South Africa trailed only 1-0 at halftime after Williams saved Jimenez’s header and the post denied Quinones.

South Africa’s task became more difficult shortly after halftime.

Sithole was sent off after bringing down Jimenez on the edge of the penalty area as the Mexico forward raced through on goal.

Mexico introduced 17-year-old Gilberto Mora, and the hosts scored their second goal within 60 seconds.

Quinones played a one-two with Jimenez and fed Roberto Alvarado, whose delivery was headed in at the back post by Jimenez.

The match ended with two more red cards.

South Africa substitute Themba Zwane and Mexico center back Cesar Montes were sent off before the final whistle.

Mexico finished the opening round of Group A matches on top of the table with three points, two goals scored, none conceded and a goal difference of plus-2.

Korea Republic also has three points after one match, with two goals scored, one conceded and a goal difference of plus-1.

Czechia is third with no points, one goal scored, two conceded and a goal difference of minus-1.

South Africa is fourth with no points, no goals scored, two conceded and a goal difference of minus-2.

Gilberto Mora, at 17 years and 240 days, became the sixth-youngest player to appear in a World Cup match.

Only Norman Whiteside, at 17 years and 41 days; Samuel Eto’o, at 17 years and 99 days; Femi Opabunmi, at 17 years and 101 days; Salomon Olembe, at 17 years and 185 days; and Pele, at 17 years and 235 days, were younger.

“I’m happy and excited to score my first World Cup goal, in such a spectacular stadium with amazing fans. It’s important for me to acknowledge what my team-mates did to secure the first three points. We’ve felt the support of the fans these past few days. We’re united and today it really showed,” Mexico forward Julian Quinones said.

“It was a really beautiful feeling, something beyond words, something I had always dreamed of: playing a match of this magnitude, at home, with these fans. The game plan is always to go out and press. After that, we dropped the tempo a bit, and maybe we lacked a little more patience and possession of the ball. I’m happy that Raul was able to score that goal. At half-time, he told me to send in a cross for him. I didn’t think twice, and I knew that in that area it could be dangerous. Thank God I got the assist and Raul was able to score that goal,” Mexico winger Roberto Alvarado said.

“If you make mistakes, they will punish you. They will hurt you at this level. I think the most important thing is that now we know what we’re up against, because we’re not used to this. We haven’t been part of the World Cup for a very long time. We went down, but we kept fighting. We didn’t give them anything towards the end. We had a few decent chances as well. We’ll keep fighting, we’ll keep going as a team, and we’ll be better,” South Africa goalkeeper Ronwen Williams said.

The results set up Mexico and Korea Republic as the early Group A leaders before the next round of matches.