Korea with a second-half comeback to the first victory

South Korea achieved their first win of the 2026 World Cup, staging a second-half comeback to defeat the Czech Republic 2-1 in their opening Group A match. The game, held in Guadalajara, Mexico, saw a dramatic shift after a scoreless first half.

The Czech Republic initially took the lead in the 59th minute. Captain Ladislav Krejči scored with a header from a throw-in, marking the Czech team's first World Cup goal in two decades. However, South Korea responded with resilience.

South Korea equalized in the 77th minute when Feyenoord midfielder Inbeom Hwang skillfully beat the Czech defense. Just minutes later, substitute Oh Hyeongyu sealed the victory in the 80th minute, finishing a swift counter-attack initiated by Hwang. Despite late pressure from the Czech Republic, including a disallowed goal for offside and strong saves from South Korean goalkeeper Seunggyu Kim, the Asian team held on for the win.