FIFA World Cup Day 1 recap: Mexico and South Korea open with victories
South Korea defeated Czechia 2-1 in their 2026 FIFA World Cup opener, with Hwang In-beom scoring and assisting Oh Hyeon-gyu’s winner, while Mexico beat South Africa 2-0 in their tournament debut. The matches took place at Guadalajara Stadium and Mexico City Stadium, respectively, with sparse attendance due to empty seats.
South Korea secured a 2-1 victory over Czechia in their opening 2026 FIFA World Cup match, held at Guadalajara Stadium on Thursday night. Hwang In-beom scored in the 67th minute after a skillful dribble past two defenders, and Oh Hyeon-gyu added the decisive goal in the 80th minute from a cross by Hwang. Czechia took the lead through Ladislav Krejci’s header in the 59th minute, but South Korea’s late rally secured the win. The match was played in front of a sparsely attended stadium, with an announced crowd of 44,985 out of 45,664 capacity seats, many of which remained empty. South Korea controlled possession and generated more scoring chances, with Son Heung-min leading the attack but failing to convert early opportunities. In the other Group A match, co-host Mexico opened the tournament with a 2-0 win over South Africa in Mexico City. The victory marked Mexico’s first points of the 2026 World Cup, setting a strong tone for their campaign. South Korea will face Mexico on June 18, while Czechia will play South Africa on the same day. The group standings now show South Korea and Mexico leading Group A after Day 1, with Czechia and South Africa trailing. The matches highlighted tactical shifts in the second half, with South Korea’s resilience proving crucial in their comeback. Czechia’s first World Cup goal in 20 years came from Krejci, but their defensive struggles allowed South Korea to capitalize on key moments.
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