South Korea 2–1 Czechia | FIFA World Cup 2026 Match Report
Group A | Estadio Guadalajara, Zapopan, México | 11th June 2026
Overview
In the second match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup's opening day, South Korea produced a thrilling comeback victory to defeat Czechia 2–1 at the Estadio Guadalajara. The Taeguk Warriors fell behind to a set-piece headed goal from Ladislav Krejci in the second half, but responded brilliantly with two goals in 13 minutes — Hwang In-beom equalising and substitute Oh Hyeon-gyu completing the turnaround — to claim a famous opening win.
It is the first time South Korea has won their opening World Cup match since 2010, and it sends them to the top of Group A alongside Mexico after day one. For Czechia, making their first World Cup appearance in 20 years, the result is a painful blow from which they must quickly recover.
Starting Lineups
South Korea — 4-3-3
Position: Player
GK: Kim Seung-gyu
RB: Seol Young-woo
CB: Kim Min-jae
CB: Lee Tae-seok
LB: Lee Han-beom
CM: Lee Gi-hyuk
CM: Hwang In-beom
CM: Paik Seung-ho
RW: Lee Jae-sung
ST:Son Heung-min(c)
LW: Lee Kang-in
Manager: Hong Myung-bo
Czechia — 4-2-3-1
Position: Player
GK: Matej Kovar
RB: Vladimir Coufal
CB: Robin Hranac
CB: Ladislav Krejci(c)
LB: Stepan Chaloupek
DM: Tomas Soucek
DM: Alexandr Sojka
RAM: Pavel Sulc
CAM: Lukas Provod
LAM: Patrik Schick
ST: Ismail Rayners
Manager: Ivan Hasek
Match Events Timeline
First Half
5' — Early South Korea Pressure
Son Heung-min links up immediately with Lee Kang-in on the left, forcing Kovar into an early low save. South Korea's fluid passing game puts Czechia on the back foot from the off.
16' — Czechia Chance — Schick
Patrik Schick wins a free-kick in a dangerous central area, and Tomas Soucek's driven ball across the box finds Schick arriving late, but his first-time effort is blocked by Kim Min-jae.
22' — Close! — Lee Kang-in (South Korea)
The PSG playmaker cuts inside from the left and unleashes a curling effort that clips the outside of the post. Lee Kang-in is looking dangerous throughout, completing all of his early passes.
26' — Cooling Break
A scheduled hydration break is taken — one of the new measures introduced by FIFA for the summer tournament.
35' — Czechia Counter — Sulc
Czechia breaks through the lines on a swift counter-attack. Pavel Sulc drives at the South Korean backline, but his shot is well gathered by Kim Seung-gyu at his near post.
42' — Son Heung-min Denied
The Tottenham forward picks up a clever pass from Hwang In-beom and gets a clear look at goal, but Kovar makes an excellent low stop to his right. South Korea is knocking hard on the door.
45+' — Half-Time: South Korea 0–0 Czechia
Second Half
59' — ⚽ GOAL — Ladislav Krejci (Czechia)
Against the run of play, Czechia take the lead through a moment of set-piece quality. Vladimir Coufal launches a long throw deep into the South Korean penalty area, and captain Krejci rises highest to power a header into the bottom corner. Kim Seung-gyu is left with no chance. Czechia's first World Cup goal in 20 years, and fittingly, it comes from a header — a recurring theme in their qualifying campaign.
62' — 🔄 Substitution — Hwang Hee-chan on for Lee Jae-sung (South Korea)
Manager Hong Myung-bo acts immediately, bringing on the energetic Hwang Hee-chan to inject pace into the attack.
64' — 🔄 Triple Substitution — Czechia
Ivan Hasek responds to South Korea's growing pressure with three changes: Adam Hlozek on for Sulc, Tomas Chory on for Schick, and Michal Sadilek on for Provod.
67' — ⚽ GOAL — Hwang In-beom (South Korea) — (Assist: Lee Kang-in)
South Korea is level within eight minutes of going behind! Lee Kang-in drives into the area and plays a perfectly weighted through ball. Hwang In-beom takes one touch to control and slots calmly past Kovar. A composed, classy finish — and Hwang becomes only the third South Korean player to score and assist in a single World Cup match, after Choi Soon-ho (1986) and current manager Hong Myung-bo (1994).
69' — 🔄 Double Substitution — South Korea
Oh Hyeon-gyu replaces Son Heung-min, and Eom Ji-sung replaces Lee Tae-seok. Son's introduction rounds off a spirited but goalless personal outing for the captain.
75' — Big Save! — Kim Seung-gyu (South Korea)
Czechia comes agonisingly close to retaking the lead. Hlozek drives into the box and plays a sharp ball to Chytil, whose instant lay-off finds Sadilek completely unmarked on the penalty spot. The striker looks to place it in the bottom corner, but Kim Seung-gyu scrambles brilliantly across his line to claw it away — a save of the highest order.
80' — ⚽ GOAL — Oh Hyeon-gyu (South Korea) — (Assist: Hwang In-beom)
South Korea completes the comeback! Hwang In-beom drives forward and plays a perfectly timed cutback across the face of the goal. Oh Hyeon-gyu, on as a substitute just 11 minutes earlier, slides in to divert the ball into the net. An ice-cold finish, and a defining moment for the youngster — he becomes the eighth South Korean to score on his first World Cup appearance, and the fifth to do so as a substitute.
84' — 🔄 Substitutions
- South Korea: Park Jin-seob on for Paik Seung-ho; Kim Jin-gyu on for Hwang In-beom
- Czechia: Mojmir Chytil on for Alexandr Sojka (85')
90+6' — 🟨 Yellow Card — Lee Gi-hyuk (South Korea)
The South Korea centre-back is booked for a cynical foul to break up a Czechia counter in the dying seconds. A minor blemish on an otherwise commanding team display.
90+7' — Full-Time: South Korea 2–1 Czechia ✅
Final Stats
Stat: South Korea vs Czechia
Goals: 2 - 1
Possession: 61.7% - 38.3%
Expected Goals (xG): 1.84 - 0.81
Yellow Cards: 1 - 0
Red Cards: 0 - 0
Formation: 4-3-3 - 4-2-3-1
Key Takeaways
South Korea won their opening World Cup match for the first time since 2010.
Hwang In-beom was the standout player — a goal, an assist, and relentless energy in the middle of the park.
Oh Hyeon-gyu delivers a match-winning cameo off the bench, scoring the decisive 80th-minute winner just 11 minutes after coming on.
Czechia's set-piece threat was real; Krejci's header was their 7th World Cup header goal dating back to 1990.
Lee Kang-in was in sensational form, completing all 37 of his passes and creating three chances.
Kim Seung-gyu's save from an unmarked Sadilek at 1–1 may prove to be one of the moments of the tournament if South Korea goes deep.
