Key Points
- South Korea rallied from behind to beat the Czech Republic 2-1 in the second match of the 2026 World Cup in Guadalajara, Mexico.
- Hwang In-beom scored the equalizer in the 67th minute and assisted the winning goal by Oh Hyeon-gyu in the 80th minute.
- The Czech Republic had taken the lead in the 59th minute through a header by captain Ladislav Krejci.
- South Korea controlled possession and created more of the notable chances, but struggled to convert early opportunities.
- The match was played at Guadalajara Stadium in front of an announced crowd of 44,985, with many empty seats visible.
- In the other Group A match, co-host Mexico beat South Africa 2-0 in the tournament opener in Mexico City.
How did South Korea come from behind to beat the Czech Republic?
GUADALAJARA (King County Insider) June 12, 2026. South Korea recovered from a slow start and defeated the Czech Republic 2-1 at the 2026 World Cup, with Hwang In-beom directly involved in both goals, according to the Associated Press report by the AP World Cup coverage team as published by ClickOnDetroit.
The AP reported that the first half was flat enough for both teams to be jeered as they left the field, but the match changed after the break when the Czech Republic scored first and South Korea answered with two goals of its own.
What happened before South Korea’s comeback?
According to the AP report, the Czech Republic opened the scoring in the 59th minute when captain Ladislav Krejci headed in a long throw-in into the penalty area.
That goal gave the Czechs a brief advantage in a match that had been tight but not especially sharp in the opening period.
South Korea then responded with more urgency and movement, which helped shift the momentum of the game.
What role did Hwang In-beom play?
The AP report said Hwang In-beom scored the equalizer in the 67th minute after a skillful move that let him beat two Czech defenders.
He then delivered the cross from the right side that led to Oh Hyeon-gyu’s winning goal in the 80th minute.
Hwang’s contribution was the decisive factor in the comeback, and the AP noted that South Korea’s attack improved after his influence grew in the second half.
How did Son Heung-min influence the match?
The AP described South Korea as being led by star forward Son Heung-min, who helped the team control possession throughout much of the game.
South Korea also outshot the Czech Republic, and the AP reported that the Koreans created most of the significant chances, even though they did not finish them early.
The report added that Son was looking to improve his World Cup scoring record, but he did not add to his tally in this match.
What did the atmosphere in Guadalajara look like?
The AP reported an announced attendance of 44,985 at the 45,664-capacity Guadalajara Stadium.
Despite the large crowd figure, there were noticeable empty seats in the middle sections and scattered gaps around the venue.
The match was played in Mexico as part of Group A, on a day when the tournament also featured Mexico’s 2-0 win over South Africa in Mexico City.
What does this result mean for South Korea?
The AP noted that South Korea was playing its 11th consecutive World Cup and its 12th overall, the most of any Asian nation.
The report also said South Korea’s best World Cup finish remains fourth place in 2002, and that the team has not gone beyond the round of 16 since then.
This win gives South Korea a strong start in Group A and a positive result in a tournament where points in the opening matches can shape the path to the knockout rounds.
Background of this development
South Korea arrived with a long record of World Cup participation and a reputation for competitive play on the international stage.
The Czech Republic was making its first World Cup appearance since 2006, which made this match significant for both sides as an early test in group play.
The AP also noted that South Korea had previously beaten European opponents in the World Cup, including Portugal in 2022 and Germany in 2018.
What is the prediction for the audience?
For South Korean fans, this result may increase confidence that the team can advance from the group stage, especially if Hwang In-beom and Son Heung-min continue to drive the attack.
For Czech supporters, the loss means the team will likely need a quicker response in its remaining group matches to stay in contention.
For neutral viewers, this game suggests Group A could remain competitive, with South Korea’s ability to recover from setbacks becoming an important storyline in the tournament.
