Hwang In-beom scored a goal and set up another as South Korea secured a 2-1 win over Czechia in their opening match of the 2026 World Cup on Thursday night in Zapopan, Mexico.

Czechia Takes Early Lead

After a lacklustre first half in which both teams were jeered as they left the field, Czechia took the lead in the 59th minute on a header by captain Ladislav Krejci after a long throw-in into the penalty area.

South Korea’s Comeback

South Korea equalised in the 67th minute when Hwang In-beom scored after faking a shot with a nifty move to clear two Czech players; he then made the cross from the right flank for Oh Hyeon-gyu’s decisive strike in the 80th minute.

The match was played in front of hundreds of empty seats at Guadalajara Stadium. The announced attendance was 44. 985 at the 45. 664-capacity stadium, with sections in the middle of the stands having many unoccupied seats and others scattered across the stadium.

Team Performances and Rankings

South Korea, led by star forward Son Heung-min, controlled possession and outshot the Czechs, who were making their first World Cup appearance since 2006. The South Koreans, ranked 25th by FIFA, had most of the significant scoring chances against the 38th-ranked Czechs but failed to capitalise early.

Earlier on Thursday, Mexico ignited their World Cup party with a dominant 2-0 victory over nine-man South Africa, as the biggest edition of the global footballing showpiece kicked off at the iconic Estadio Azteca.

With three points each, Mexico sits on top of Group A, with South Korea second on goal difference. Czechia are third, and South Africa sit at the bottom. In the next round of Group A matches on June 18, Mexico face South Korea in Zapopan, while Czechia play South Africa in Atlanta.

The top two teams from each of the 12 groups, along with the eight best third-placed teams, proceed to the knockouts, which begin with the round of 32.

Football fans can follow the action on Al Jazeera’s dedicated FIFA World Cup 2026 page, which features all the latest news, match build-up, and live text commentary, as well as updates on group standings, real-time match results, and schedules.