Korea Republic launched their FIFA World Cup 2026™ campaign with a thrilling 2-1 comeback victory over Czechia at Guadalajara Stadium. After falling behind, goals from Hwang Inbeom and Oh Hyeongyu turned the match in Korea's favor.

Match Overview

The match began with Korea Republic dominating possession and creating several chances, yet they were unable to breach the defense of Czechia, thanks in large part to goalkeeper Matej Kovar's impressive performance. Kovar thwarted a powerful strike from Lee Kangin in the 14th minute and denied Son Heungmin on multiple occasions, including a near miss just before halftime.

Despite Korea's pressure, it was Czechia who struck first. In the 59th minute, captain Ladislav Krejci scored with a powerful header from a long throw by Vladimir Coufal, giving Czechia a surprising lead. However, the momentum shifted quickly when Hwang Inbeom equalized in the 67th minute, skillfully cutting inside and finishing with a delicate touch after receiving a well-placed pass from Lee Kangin. Oh Hyeongyu then completed the turnaround, scoring in the 80th minute by converting Hwang's low cross from the right.

Final Stages

Czechia pushed hard for an equalizer, with Adam Hlozek coming close in the 82nd minute, forcing a remarkable save from Korean goalkeeper Kim Seunggyu. Ultimately, Korea Republic held on to secure the victory, marking their third consecutive World Cup win against European teams, following previous triumphs over Portugal in 2022 and Germany in 2018.

This win places Korea Republic second in Group A, alongside Mexico, who also won their opening match. As the tournament progresses, Korea will look to build on this strong start.