World Cup Comeback
South Korea Secures Comeback Victory Against Czech Republic in World Cup Match
South Korea pulled off a 2-1 comeback win over the Czech Republic in their 2026 World Cup Group A opener on June 11 in Guadalajara, Mexico. Hwang In-beom scored the equalizer in the 67th minute, then set up substitute Oh Hyeon-gyu for the winner in the 80th minute to send South Korea to the top of the group WRAL.
The Czech Republic had taken the lead through a Ladislav Krejci header in the 59th minute — the nation's first World Cup goal in 20 years. But South Korea's technical quality proved too much in the final half-hour, leaving the Czechs with a narrow loss in their first World Cup appearance since 2006 Dubai Eye 1038.
Hwang In-beom Turns the Game on Its Head
The first half was quiet. South Korea held 63% of the ball but created little, and both teams were jeered off the pitch at halftime Winnipeg Free Press. Then, in the 59th minute, Czech captain Krejci headed home from a long throw by Vladimír Coufal to break the deadlock.
Hwang In-beom changed everything eight minutes later. The Feyenoord midfielder beat two defenders and dinked the ball over the goalkeeper to equalize. He had only recently recovered from a right ankle injury to make the squad. In the 80th minute, Hwang cut a low cross across the box and Oh Hyeon-gyu tapped home the winner Lancashire Telegraph.
Czech Republic's Physical Plan Fell Just Short
The Czech Republic arrived with a clear strategy: turn the match physical and win set pieces. It almost worked. Krejci's header came directly from that plan. In the 77th minute, midfielder Tomas Soucek had a goal disallowed for offside that would have put them back in front Bury Times.
Czech manager Miroslav Koubek, 75 years old and the oldest coach in the tournament, praised his team's discipline. But he admitted South Korea's quality was
Son Heung-min's Fourth World Cup, Still Hungry
South Korea captain Son Heung-min played his fourth World Cup. He missed several chances but remained the focal point of the attack. Before the match, Son had said: "Every World Cup match is so important that, as a player, you would stake your life on it" Ilford Recorder.
South Korea arrived in Mexico unbeaten through AFC qualifying — 11 wins and 5 draws. This is their 11th straight World Cup, the most of any Asian nation. Manager Hong Myung-bo spent three weeks preparing the squad at high altitude in Salt Lake City to handle Guadalajara's thin air WRAL.
South Korea Now Face Co-Hosts Mexico on June 18
The win puts South Korea level with Mexico at the top of Group A, both on 3 points. Mexico leads on goal difference after a 2-0 win over South Africa earlier on the same day. The two sides meet in Guadalajara on June 18 in a match likely to decide who tops the group Winnipeg Free Press.
The Czech Republic face South Africa in Atlanta on June 18 in what looks like a must-win game. South Korea outshot the Czechs 15 to 7 on the night, with 6 shots on target compared to 4. The match drew 44,985 fans, though reports noted several empty sections in the stands Dubai Eye 1038.
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