Hwang In-beom scored one goal and set up another as South Korea rallied to beat the Czech Republic 2-1 in their second Group A match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Thursday evening in Zapopan, Mexico.
After a lifeless first half that saw both teams jeered off the pitch, the Czech Republic took the lead in the 59th minute through a header from captain Ladislav Krejci from a long throw into the box.
South Korea equalized in the 67th minute when Hwang dribbled past two Czech defenders with a neat feint before finishing. He then delivered a cross from the right flank for Oh Hyeon-gyu to head home decisively in the 80th minute, in front of hundreds of empty seats at the Guadalajara Stadium.
Led by star striker Son Heung-min, South Korea enjoyed more possession and more shots than the Czech Republic, who were appearing in their first World Cup since 2006.
South Korea, ranked 25th by FIFA, created most of the meaningful scoring chances against the 38th-ranked Czechs but failed to capitalize early.
The official attendance was 44,985, just shy of the 45,664 capacity at Guadalajara Stadium. Many seats in the middle sections stood empty, with additional vacant spots scattered around the venue.
Earlier Thursday, Mexico kicked off the World Cup with an imposing 2-0 victory over South Africa, as the biggest edition of the global football tournament began at the Azteca Stadium.
With three points each, Mexico top Group A, with South Korea second on goal difference. The Czech Republic sit third, and South Africa are last. In the next round of Group A matches on June 18, Mexico face South Korea in Zapopan, while the Czech Republic meet South Africa in Atlanta.
The top two teams from each of the 12 groups, along with the eight best third-placed teams, will advance to the knockout stage, beginning with a round of 32 teams.
