Captain Son Heung-min, center, takes part in a training session with his teammates at Chivas Valle Verde in Zapopan, Mexico, Wednesday (local time), before their Group A match against Mexico. YonhapZAPOPAN, Mexico — Korea can become the first team to win their group at this year's FIFA World Cup by beating Mexico this week and getting some help from other teams.Korea and Mexico will go into their Group A showdown Thursday at Estadio Guadalajara in Zapopan, western Mexico, knotted at three points each. Mexico, who beat South Africa 2-0 last week, currently occupy the top spot thanks to their superior goal difference, with Korea in second place after defeating Czechia 2-1 to begin their campaign.For Korea, a combination of their win and a win or a draw by Czechia against South Africa on Thursday will secure them the top seed in Group A, regardless of the outcome from Korea's final group stage match against South Africa next week.In this scenario, Korea will improve to six points and Mexico will remain at three points. Czechia will either grab three points or one point.Even if Korea and Mexico both finish with six points at the conclusion of the group stage, Korea will hold the tiebreak edge over Mexico by virtue of their victory in Thursday's meeting. The head-to-head record between the tied teams is the first tiebreaker.If Czechia win out, then they will have a chance to finish tied with Korea at six points. Korea will also have the tiebreak advantage over the European side after beating them last week.Teams in Group A and Group B will all play their second matches Thursday before every other team in the tournament. All four teams in Group B — Switzerland, Canada, Qatar and Bosnia and Herzegovina — had a draw to begin their play, meaning no one can win the group Thursday.This means the "win over Mexico plus Czechia win or draw" formula will make Korea the first team to secure the top seed in their group and thus book a place in the round of 32.On the flip side, Mexico can win Group A with a combination of their win over Korea and a win or a draw by South Africa against Czechia.This is Korea's 12th World Cup appearance. The Taegeuk Warriors progressed to the knockouts on three previous occasions — reaching the semifinals in 2002 and getting as far as the round of 16 in 2010 and 2022.At the 2002 tournament, which they co-hosted with Japan, Korea won their group with seven points from two wins and a draw. In 2010 and 2022, Korea finished second in their group with four points on one win, one draw and one loss.At all three tournaments, Korea's fate was determined in the final group match.This year's tournament is the largest edition ever, featuring 48 nations, up from 32. The knockout round will begin with the round of 32. The top two teams from each of the 12 groups will automatically qualify, joined by the eight best third-place teams.If Korea win Group A, they are assured of playing a third-place team — from Groups C, E, F, H or I. In this case, both the round of 32 and round of 16 matches will be in Mexico City.If Korea end up as the runner-up in Group A, they will face the Group B runner-up in the round of 32 in Los Angeles.Should Korea sneak into the round of 32 as a No. 3 team, they will meet either the Group E winner in Boston or the Group G winner in Seattle.