South Korea Comeback to Beat Czech Republic in World Cup Opener

In a key Group A match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, South Korea came from behind to defeat Czech Republic 2-1 at Estadio Akron in Guadalajara (Zapopan), securing a winning start to their campaign. The match was officiated by Egyptian referee Amin Mohamed Omar.

The first half was a tightly contested affair with both sides creating chances but failing to find the net. The score remained 0-0 at halftime, with South Korea enjoying more possession but unable to break through the Czech defense.

Czech Republic struck first in the 59th minute when Vladimir Coufal set up Lukas Krejci to score, putting the Czechs 1-0 ahead. The goal energized the Czech team, but South Korea responded quickly.

In the 67th minute, Lee Kang-In assisted Hwang In-Beom to equalize, making it 1-1. Just 13 minutes later, in the 80th minute, Hwang In-Beom turned provider for Oh Hyeon-Gyu, who scored the winning goal to give South Korea a 2-1 lead.

Czech Republic pushed hard for an equalizer in the final stages, but South Korea's defense held firm to secure the victory. The result puts South Korea in a strong position in the group standings.

South Korea will face their next group opponent, while Czech Republic must regroup quickly to earn points in upcoming matches. For more match details, visit our matches page and team page.