Korea's national soccer team beat the Czech Republic 2-1 with a come-from-behind win in its first match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North and Central America. Korea conceded the opener in the second half, but Hwang In-beom's equalizer and Oh Hyun-gyu's winner off the bench turned the game around.
Led by coach Hong Myung-bo, Korea won 2-1 against the Czech Republic in the Group A opener of the group stage at the North and Central America World Cup at Guadalajara Stadium in Zapopan, Mexico, at 11 a.m. on the 12th (Korea time). With three points, Korea began the tournament in second place in Group A behind Mexico, which beat South Africa 2-0 in the opener.
Korea lined up Son Heung-min (LAFC) up front, with Lee Jae-sung (Mainz) and Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain) in the second line. Hwang In-beom (Feyenoord) and Baek Seung-ho (Birmingham City) anchored the midfield, with Lee Tae-seok (Wien) and Seol Young-woo (Zvezda) as left and right wingbacks. The back line consisted of Lee Ki-hyeok (Gangwon), Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich), and Lee Han-beom (Midtjylland), and Kim Seung-gyu (FC Tokyo) guarded the net.
Korea controlled the first half but it ended scoreless. In the 12th minute, Lee Kang-in slipped a pass to Lee Jae-sung cutting into the box, and Son Heung-min followed with a shot, but it was blocked by the Czech defense. In the 14th, Lee Kang-in tried a left-footed long-range shot, but it was denied by Czech goalkeeper Matej Kovar's save.
Son Heung-min also had back-to-back chances late in the first half. In the 38th, he tried a right-footed shot from the top of the penalty area but missed the target, and a minute later, after a dribble break, his left-footed effort went wide left. In first-half stoppage time, he charged at Lee Tae-seok's low cross, but the ball did not catch his foot cleanly.
Korea created the first chance in the second half as well. Early on, Hwang In-beom and Lee Jae-sung took consecutive shots, and Son Heung-min also had a one-on-one chance, but he could not beat the Czech goalkeeper.
But it was the Czech Republic that struck first. In the 14th minute, Vladimir Coufal's long throw-in was headed on by Ladislav Krejci to open Korea's goal. Korea's defense wobbled against an attack that exploited the Czech height.
Korea hit back immediately. In the 18th, Lee Jae-sung was taken off for Hwang Hee-chan, and the attack tempo increased. In the 22nd, Hwang In-beom received a pass from Lee Kang-in, drove into the penalty area, deceived the defender and goalkeeper, and slotted in a right-footed equalizer.
In the 24th, Hong took off Son Heung-min and Lee Tae-seok and brought on Oh Hyun-gyu and Eom Ji-sung. The substitutions paid off. In the 35th, Hwang In-beom sent in a pass from the right flank, and Oh Hyun-gyu finished with his left foot in front of goal for the go-ahead score. Oh netted the winner 11 minutes after coming on.
The Czech Republic pressed late with long throw-ins and set pieces. In the 33rd, it rippled the net, but after a video review (VAR) the goal was disallowed for offside. In the 37th and in stoppage time, Kim Seung-gyu denied the Czech Republic's clear shots to preserve the lead.
Korea also held the edge in the stats. Korea recorded 15 shots, including 7 on target, while the Czech Republic had 8 shots with 4 on target. Possession was 62% for Korea and 38% for the Czech Republic. Korea also completed 473 passes, far ahead of the Czech Republic's 314. Pass accuracy was 87% for Korea and 70% for the Czech Republic.
This is Korea's first win in a World Cup group-stage opener in 16 years since the match against Greece at the 2010 South Africa World Cup. Korea has won its World Cup opener four times overall, following the matches against Poland at the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup, Togo at the 2006 Germany World Cup, and Greece at the 2010 South Africa World Cup.
With the tournament expanded to 48 teams, the top two teams from each of the 12 groups, along with the eight best third-place teams, advance to the round of 32. With three points from the first match, Korea made a favorable start in the race to reach the knockout stage.
Korea will face host Mexico in the second group match at the same venue at 10 a.m. on the 19th. It will then play South Africa in the group finale at Monterrey Stadium at 10 a.m. on the 25th.