The Korea men's national soccer team took a 2-1 lead over the Czech Republic in its 2026 FIFA North and Central America World Cup opener on a go-ahead goal by substitute Oh Hyeon-gyu.
Korea, led by coach Hong Myung-bo, turned the game around on a goal by Oh Hyeon-gyu in the 35th minute of the second half in the Group A opener of the North and Central America World Cup against the Czech Republic, held at Guadalajara Stadium in Zapopan, Mexico, at 11 a.m. on the 12th (Korea time).
Oh Hyeon-gyu came on for Son Heung-min in the 24th minute of the second half. Eleven minutes after coming on, in the 35th minute of the second half, he unlocked the Czech goal with an assist from Hwang In-beom.
Korea had conceded the opener to Ladislav Krejci in the 14th minute of the second half. But in the 22nd minute of the second half, Hwang In-beom converted a pass from Lee Kang-in to equalize, and Oh Hyeon-gyu added the go-ahead goal to put Korea ahead 2-1.
The Czech Republic appeared to have added a goal around the 33rd minute of the second half, but it was disallowed after a video assistant referee (VAR) review. Korea then immediately scored the go-ahead goal to seize momentum.