Hwang In-beom and Oh Hyun-gyu lead South Korea's comeback win with first World Cup goals

South Korea staged a dramatic comeback to defeat Czechia 2-1 in their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with midfielder Hwang In-beom and substitute striker Oh Hyun-gyu scoring their first World Cup goals to secure the victory.

Hwang In-beom, hailed as the "midfield commander," orchestrated play from central midfield. After conceding the first goal in the 59th minute, he equalized in the 67th minute with a clever move that bypassed the goalkeeper and defender before slotting the ball into the net. His performance was crucial, especially as he returned from a recent injury that had sidelined him from national team call-ups.

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I'm so emotional that I was able to play and score.

Oh Hyun-gyu, who had previously served as a training partner for the national team in the 2018 World Cup, made his mark in his World Cup debut. Coming on as a substitute, he scored the winning goal in the 80th minute, converting a cross from Hwang In-beom with a powerful sliding shot. Oh, wearing the symbolic No. 18 jersey, showcased his explosive speed, fighting spirit, and clinical finishing ability.

Oh Hyun-gyu expressed his gratitude after the match, revealing he had a fever of 38 degrees Celsius before the game but was able to play thanks to the care of the coaching staff and medical team. "I'm so emotional that I was able to play and score," he said. Looking ahead to the next match against Mexico, he added, "Mexico is playing at home. We will humbly analyze them and try to continue our winning streak. I will give 100% in the Mexico match as well."

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Mexico is playing at home. We will humbly analyze them and try to continue our winning streak. I will give 100% in the Mexico match as well.