South Korea Stages Comeback to Defeat Czech Republic in World Cup 2026 Opener
Published June 12, 2026
South Korea began their FIFA World Cup 2026 journey with a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory against the Czech Republic in their opening Group A match, held in Zapopan, Mexico.
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The 2026 FIFA World Cup got off to an exciting start for South Korea, as they secured a hard-fought 2-1 win over the Czech Republic in their Group A opener on Thursday, June 11, 2026. The match, played near Guadalajara, Mexico, saw the Asian giants overcome a second-half deficit to claim all three points, marking a significant start to their campaign.
After a goalless first half, it was the Czech Republic who broke the deadlock in the 59th minute, with captain Ladislav Krejci finding the back of the net with a header. However, South Korea quickly responded, as Hwang In-beom leveled the score just eight minutes later in the 67th minute. The decisive moment arrived in the 80th minute when Oh Hyeon-gyu struck to put South Korea ahead 2-1, a lead they successfully defended until the final whistle.
Despite captain Son Heung-min reportedly missing several opportunities throughout the game, the collective effort and resilience of the squad shone through. South Korea's coach, Hong Myung-bo, praised his team's tenacity, emphasizing their refusal to give up. This victory marks South Korea's first opening World Cup win since 2010 and only their third triumph against a European opponent in the tournament's history, setting a positive tone for their ambitions in the expanded 48-team tournament co-hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico.