South Korea opened their 2026 World Cup campaign with a 2-1 comeback win over Czechia at Guadalajara Stadium, with Hwang In-beom scoring the equalizer and setting up Oh Hyeon-gyu's winner.
Hwang In-Beom Turns South Korea Around
Czechia took the lead in the 59th minute through captain Ladislav Krejci, who headed in after a long throw-in into the penalty area. The goal followed a flat first half in which both teams were jeered as they left the field.
South Korea answered in the 67th minute. Hwang faked a shot, cleared space from two Czech players and scored to make it 1-1. He then crossed from the right flank for Oh's decisive strike in the 80th minute.
Czechia Denied By Offside Call
The Czechs thought they had gone back in front in the 77th minute from another set piece, but Tomas Soucek was ruled offside on his header.
Czechia coach Miroslav Koubek said the better team probably won, while also saying his side could have had a better result without some mistakes. That was a fair summary of a match that shifted sharply once South Korea found rhythm after halftime.
Guadalajara Crowd Sees Group A Comeback
The match was played before an announced crowd of 44,985 at the 45,664-capacity Guadalajara Stadium, though AP noted that several sections in the middle of the stands had empty seats. FIFA President Gianni Infantino was among those in attendance.
South Korea, led by Son Heung-min, controlled possession and outshot Czechia. Son was looking to become South Korea's top World Cup scorer and the Asian player with the most goals in the tournament, but he missed wide in the first half and had a close-range shot saved in the second.
Czechia were making their first World Cup appearance since 2006. South Korea are playing in their 11th straight World Cup and 12th overall, the most by any Asian country.
In the other Group A match Thursday, co-host Mexico beat South Africa 2-0 in Mexico City. South Korea's win gives the group an immediate second result with a clean headline: they were behind, Hwang changed the match, and Czechia's return started with a missed chance.