World Cup 2026: South Korea come from behind to claim Group A victory

South Korea launched their World Cup 2026 campaign with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over the Czech Republic, recovering from a second-half deficit to claim all three points in their opening Group A match at Akron Stadium.

The Koreans were forced to respond after the Czech Republic broke the deadlock midway through the second half, but a swift turnaround ensured they began the tournament on a winning note and strengthened their position in the race for qualification from the group.

For much of the contest, the two teams were evenly matched, with neither side able to find a breakthrough before the interval.

The game eventually sprang to life in the 59th minute when Ladislav Krejčí put the Czech Republic ahead, giving his side hope of an important opening victory.

However, South Korea reacted strongly and quickly regained control of the contest. Their response arrived just eight minutes later when Hwang In-beom found the equaliser in the 67th minute, restoring parity and shifting momentum in favour of the Asian side.

With confidence growing, South Korea continued to push forward in search of a winner. Their persistence was rewarded in the 80th minute when Oh Hyeon-gyu scored the decisive goal to complete the comeback and secure a valuable three points.

The result leaves South Korea in a strong position after the opening round of fixtures. They occupy second place in Group A with three points, level with Mexico, who also began their campaign with a victory after defeating South Africa 2-0.

Although both teams have the same number of points, Mexico sit above South Korea in the standings thanks to their superior goal difference following the first round of matches.

For the Czech Republic, the defeat represents a disappointing start after leading for more than 20 minutes. Despite taking control through Krejčí’s goal, they were unable to withstand South Korea’s response and now face increased pressure heading into their next group fixture.

South Africa also remain without a point after their opening defeat to Mexico, leaving both teams at the bottom of the table after the first matchday.

As the tournament progresses, South Korea will take confidence from their ability to recover from adversity, while the Czech Republic must quickly regroup to keep their qualification hopes alive.