South Korea Opens World Cup with 2-1 Win Over Czechia

ZAPOPAN, Mexico — South Korea began their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with a 2-1 victory over Czechia on Thursday at Estadio Guadalajara, according to Yonhap News. Head coach Hong Myung-bo said the team's three-week altitude training in Utah paid off, as Czech players appeared to tire in the second half.

"I could clearly see that Czechia players were slowing down in the second half, and on the other hand, our players kept pushing and pushing and stayed aggressive in the late minutes," Hong said at the postmatch press conference.

South Korea conceded the first goal in the 59th minute but equalized eight minutes later. Oh Hyeon-gyu scored the winner in the 80th minute. Midfielder Lee Kang-in set up the equalizer with a sharp through ball to Hwang In-beom.

Hong, who also coached South Korea at the 2014 World Cup where the team exited in the group stage, credited the players' hard work and dedication. "Even when we were down 1-0, the players fulfilled their roles really well until the end," he said.

Preparation and Arrival

The Taegeuk Warriors arrived in Mexico on Friday, June 5, and checked into the Westin Guadalajara. They had spent about three weeks training in Salt Lake City, Utah, and played two friendlies there, beating Trinidad and Tobago 5-0 and El Salvador 1-0.

Hong expressed confidence before the match, saying, "The World Cup is a dream-come-true moment for football players. I feel like we have left no stone unturned in our preparation for this competition." He also noted the team would play two of their three Group A matches in Guadalajara, about 1,500 meters above sea level.

Upcoming Match Against Mexico

South Korea's next Group A match is against Mexico on Thursday, June 18, at Estadio Guadalajara. Mexico, one of the co-hosts, defeated South Africa 2-0 in their opener.

The match features an intriguing subplot: South Korea midfielder Lee Kang-in will face Mexico head coach Javier Aguirre, under whom Lee played at RCD Mallorca during the 2022-2023 La Liga season. Lee set career highs with six goals and seven assists that season before moving to Paris Saint-Germain.

Aguirre once called Lee "the most talented player in the squad and he's so lethal in one-on-one situations." Lee is now considered one of South Korea's most important players.

Hong said he will try to mold his squad into a more complete unit during the remaining days. He may also switch training to the morning due to weather conditions in Mexico, which differ from Utah.

South Korea's final Group A match will be against South Africa on June 24 at Estadio Monterrey.