Korea Republic made a dream start to their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign after coming from behind to defeat the Czech Republic 2-1 in their Group A opener at Estadio Akron, Guadalajara.
South Korea lined up in a 3-4-3 formation, spearheaded by captain Son Heung-min, supported by Lee Jae-sung and Lee Kang-in in attack.
Aware of the Czech Republic’s aerial strength and physical presence, Hong Myung-bo’s side initially sat deep and looked to exploit spaces behind the opposition defense. As the first half progressed, South Korea gradually took control of possession and began creating dangerous opportunities.
Son Heung-min was twice denied in promising positions, while Lee Kang-in tested goalkeeper Matej Kovar with a powerful long-range effort. Despite enjoying the better chances, South Korea could not find a breakthrough before halftime as both teams went into the interval locked at 0-0.
The second half followed a similar pattern, with South Korea pressing forward in search of an opener. However, against the run of play, it was the Czech Republic who struck first.
In the 59th minute, captain Ladislav Krejci rose highest to convert a long throw-in from Vladimir Coufal, heading home from close range to stun the Korean supporters.
The goal threatened to derail South Korea’s positive performance, but the Asian side responded with determination.
South Korea’s equalizer arrived in the 67th minute through Hwang In-beom. After receiving a clever pass from Lee Kang-in, the midfielder calmly evaded a defender inside the box before delicately lifting his finish beyond the goalkeeper for his first-ever World Cup goal.
The momentum shifted decisively in South Korea’s favor, and the winning goal followed 13 minutes later.
Hwang once again played a decisive role, threading a pass into the penalty area for substitute Oh Hyeon-gyu. The striker timed his run perfectly before firing home from close range, completing a dramatic comeback and registering his maiden World Cup goal.
The Czech Republic pushed for a late equalizer and nearly found one, but goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu produced a brilliant save to preserve South Korea’s advantage.
Beyond the three points, the performance showcased South Korea’s growing maturity and attacking quality on the world stage. While Son Heung-min was unable to add his name to the scoresheet, his leadership and influence were evident throughout the contest.
The midfield partnership of Hwang In-beom and Baek Seung-ho controlled key phases of the game, while Lee Kang-in’s creativity proved instrumental in both attacking transitions and chance creation.
Most importantly, South Korea demonstrated the character required to recover from adversity against a disciplined European opponent.
The victory lifts South Korea to an ideal start in Group A and sets up a blockbuster showdown against tournament co-hosts Mexico on June 19 in Guadalajara.
For the Czech Republic, the defeat means they will need a positive response in their next outing when they take on South Africa in a crucial Group A encounter.
Credit Photo : KFA
