South Korea players celebrate after the World Cup Group A soccer match between South Korea and Czechia in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Thursday, June 11, 2026. Reuters-Yonhap
South Korea came from behind to beat the Czech Republic 2-1 on Thursday evening in Guadalajara to start the 2026 World Cup with a deserved win, even if it was touch and go for a while. It was a fine performance from coach Hong Myung-bo’s men after a number of missed chances meant that it looked like, for a while, the points were slipping away.
In the end, it is a first opening win at the World Cup since 2010 and sets the Taeguk Warriors nicely to get out Group A and into the knockout stages. The three points are welcome but also is the fact that Korea played some exciting and attractive soccer, in contrast to the physical Czechs who mostly threatened from set pieces.
Hwang In-beom was the star as the midfielder scoring a fine equalizer and then assisting Oh Hyeon-gyu for the winning goal. After all the criticism and uncertainty, there were big smiles on the faces of the Korean players and their army of fans in Mexico.
The first half belonged to the 2002 semifinalists. Lee Kang-in was pulling the strings going forward, picking out passes and finding space. Son Heung-min is still the face of the team but it is increasingly apparent that the younger player, who seems set to leave Paris Saint-Germain for Atletico Madrid in the summer, makes things happen.
