At 10 a.m. on the 19th, Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul. The square was once again awash in a sea of red as fans gathered to cheer the Korea national soccer team in its second group-stage match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup North and Central America against Mexico. Following the match against the Czech Republic on the 12th, this was the second street cheering event, and citizens holding Red Devils T-shirts and Taegeukgi flags streamed in even before kickoff.
◇ "I missed the Czech match, so I came out for the Mexico match"
This match is effectively seen as the decider for first place in the group. The cheering fervor was just as intense. The Korea Football Association, KT, and the Red Devils expected up to 20,000 people and expanded the official cheering section to 9,000 seats. While 6,000 were expected for the Czech match, more than 10,000 actually came to the square.
According to Seoul city data, between 16,000 and 18,000 people were counted at Gwanghwamun Square as of 10 a.m. that day. That was 148.4% higher than the average for the same time over the past month. The crowd grew by more than 6,000 in just one hour.
Cheer squads on a stage set up on the north side of Gwanghwamun Square worked the crowd with chants even before kickoff. Each time the roar of "Daehanminguk" rang across the square, citizens waved their cheering sticks in response.
Some who could not make it to the square for the Czech match due to work or personal schedules also stood out. A person surnamed Choi, 42, said, "Last week I had a meeting, so I only watched the broadcast news at the office," adding, "This time it's an important match, so I took the morning off and came to Gwanghwamun with my family." Choi added, "I hope the national team definitely beats Mexico and advances to the round of 32 and the round of 16."
A college student, a person surnamed Park, 23, who came to the square with a friend, also said, "I was jealous after seeing photos from the Czech match cheering, but today I came in person," adding, "I'm impressed by the atmosphere, like the entire square has become one cheering squad."
There were plenty of families as well. Children draped in Taegeukgi flags took commemorative photos with their parents, and citizens posed with the screen as a backdrop before kickoff, soaking up the cheering fever.
◇ Mexico supporters join in too… "Hope it's a good match"
Some Mexicans wore green Mexico supporter outfits. Most were visiting Korea for travel or living in Korea to study. When they met fellow Mexicans in the same supporter outfits, they waved to greet each other and chatted happily about the match.
Hugo, 29, who said he came to Korea last week with his girlfriend to travel, said, "We're not usually big soccer fans, but we hurried to get supporter outfits and came to Gwanghwamun," adding, "Watching Mexico play Korea while visiting Korea will make for a good memory."
Fernanda, 29, said, "As a Mexican, I hope for a Mexico win, but I also hope Korea shows good form."
As of the 25th minute of the first half, the national team and Mexico were locked at 0-0. Son Heung-min (LAFC) led the line. Lee Jae-sung (Mainz) and Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain) started on the left and right wings, with Hwang In-beom (Feyenoord) and Baek Seung-ho (Birmingham City) anchoring the midfield.
Running a back three, Lee Ki-hyeok (Gangwon), Kim Min-jae (Munich), and Lee Han-beom (Midtjylland) guarded the last line, with Seol Young-woo (Zvezda) and Kim Moon-hwan (Daejeon) as wingbacks on the left and right. Kim Seung-gyu (Tokyo) was in goal.