Mexico secured its place in the World Cup knockout stage after earning a hard-fought 1-0 victory over South Korea in front of an electric home crowd at Guadalajara Stadium on Thursday. The result made the tournament co-hosts the first nation to officially advance to the next round and also guaranteed them top spot in Group A with one game still remaining. The decisive moment came shortly after halftime when Luis Romo capitalized on a costly mistake by South Korean goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu. The goal sent the home fans into celebration and ensured Mexico would continue its tournament journey with growing confidence.— FIFAWorldCup (@FIFAWorldCup) By finishing first in the group, Mexico will remain on home soil for its Round of 32 match in Mexico City, where it will face one of the tournament’s third-place teams. South Korea remains in second place with three points and still controls its own fate heading into the final group match. The Czech Republic and South Africa also remain in contention after their earlier 1-1 draw. Both sides entered the game knowing that a win would guarantee qualification, creating a high-pressure atmosphere from the opening whistle.— FIFAWorldCup (@FIFAWorldCup) South Korea threatened first through captain Son Heung-min. The forward managed to lift the ball over Mexican goalkeeper Raul Rangel in the opening half, but defender Edson Alvarez made a spectacular bicycle clearance on the goal line. Although the play was eventually ruled offside, television replays suggested it had been a close decision.Mexico then created a chance of its own when Julian Quinones tested Kim with a powerful header, forcing the South Korean goalkeeper into an important save. The first half, however, largely belonged to South Korea, who controlled possession and moved the ball effectively around the field. Despite dominating large stretches of play, they struggled to create dangerous scoring opportunities. Frustration among the home supporters was evident, with boos echoing around the stadium at halftime.— FIFAWorldCup (@FIFAWorldCup) Mexico returned with greater energy and urgency after the break. Just five minutes into the second half, Kim rushed toward a high ball and collided with his own teammate while attempting to collect it. The loose ball fell directly to Romo, who calmly tapped it into an open net.South Korea pushed for an equalizer late in the match, but Raul Rangel produced two outstanding saves in the closing moments to protect Mexico’s lead and seal an important victory.Mexico will conclude its Group A campaign against the Czech Republic in a match with little impact on its tournament position, while South Korea will face South Africa in a crucial encounter. Earlier in the day, South Africa and the Czech Republic played out a 1-1 draw, keeping both teams in the race for a place in the knockout stage.