South Korea vs Czechia: World Cup 2026 begins in Guadalajara

The 2026 North American World Cup kicks off tonight in Guadalajara with the opening match between South Korea and Czechia. Both teams are eager to secure their first victory in Group A, setting a positive tone for their tournament campaigns.

South Korea enters the match with strong momentum, having won their last two friendly matches against Trinidad and Tobago (5-0) and El Salvador (1-0) without conceding a goal. This marks their eleventh consecutive appearance in the World Cup, showcasing a consistent presence in the sport's premier international competition since 1986.

For Czechia, this tournament signifies a significant return after a 20-year absence. Their last World Cup appearance was in Germany in 2006, where they secured one victory against the United States but failed to advance from the group stage. This year's participation is particularly historic as it is their first as the Czech Republic, having previously competed as Czechoslovakia.

Czechia also comes into the tournament with recent success in friendly matches, defeating Kosovo (2-1) and Guatemala (3-1). The match will be held at the Estadio Guadalajara, which will host its first game of the 2026 World Cup. The game is scheduled for 8:00 PM Central Mexico time and will be broadcast on ViX Premium.