South Korea produced a spirited second-half comeback to defeat the Czech Republic 2-1 in their opening Group A match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, securing their first victory in a World Cup opener since 2010.
The Asians were forced to come from behind after the Czech Republic took the lead midway through the second half through Ladislav Krejčí.
The defender broke the deadlock in the 59th minute, giving the Europeans a deserved advantage and putting South Korea under pressure.
However, the Koreans responded strongly and found an equaliser eight minutes later. Midfielder Hwang In-beom restored parity in the 67th minute with a well-taken finish, reigniting his side’s hopes of beginning their campaign with a positive result.
South Korea completed the turnaround in the 80th minute when striker Oh Hyeon-gyu found the back of the net to seal a memorable victory and send Korean supporters into celebration.
The win marks South Korea’s first triumph in a FIFA World Cup opening match since the 2010 tournament and puts them in a strong position in Group A as they seek a place in the knockout rounds.
The result comes after hosts Mexico kicked off the tournament with a 2-0 victory over South Africa in the opening match.
South Africa’s hopes were dealt a major blow after finishing the game with nine men following two red cards.
With Mexico and South Korea both claiming victories in their opening fixtures, the battle for qualification from Group A is already taking shape as the tournament gathers momentum.