Three points. That was the assignment for Korea Republic at the Estadio Akron in Guadalajara, and they delivered — just not in the manner anyone expected. A 2026 FIFA World Cup™ opener that had everything: a goal conceded against the run of play, an equaliser of pure genius, a disallowed goal that swung momentum, and a substitute winner that sealed the result. Korea Republic beat Czechia 2–1 to open their Group A campaign with maximum points.
Son Heung-min’s men came in as favourites. For most of the first half, they played like it. They just could not put the ball in the net.
Don’t miss a moment of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ — stream it live on ZEE5 in India. Get the ₹799 quarterly plan or the ₹1,699 annual plan and catch every match live.
First half: Korea Republic on the front foot
Korea Republic took control from the first whistle. Eight shot attempts in the first 45 minutes told the story of a side comfortable in possession, progressive going forward, and confident in their shape. Son Heung-min, the captain and talisman, had two gilt-edged chances before the break. Neither went in.
Czechia sat deep and organised. They were not here to press high or take the game to Korea — they were here to frustrate, and they were doing it well. Their defensive structure was solid, their shape compact, and they offered very little in attacking intent. At half-time, 0–0 felt generous to a visiting side that had spent most of those 45 minutes inside their own penalty area.
Czechia break the deadlock (58’)
Korea had dominated, yet they were the ones who fell behind. From a well-delivered throw-in by Vladimír Coufal, Ladislav Krejčí found space at the back post and connected with a powerful, directed header. Kim Seung-gyu had no chance. 1–0 to Czechia, against the run of virtually everything that had happened in the preceding hour.
Korea had controlled the ball, created the better chances, and pinned Czechia inside their own half for long periods. They were losing. This is World Cup Football 2026™.
The equaliser — a moment of pure intelligence (66’)
The response, when it came, was extraordinary. Hwang In-beom received a pass just inside the Czech box, and rather than shooting immediately — as almost every player in that situation would — he stopped. Paused. Let the Czech goalkeeper and two defenders commit to the expected shot. Then placed it calmly into an almost empty net.
1–1. The Estadio Akron erupted. It was a goal that spoke of nerve, of composure, of the kind of game intelligence that separates good players from genuinely special ones. Pressure? Hwang barely seemed to notice it. Those eight minutes had changed the entire match.
The disallowed goal and the decisive moment (77’–79’)
The drama was far from over. In the 77th minute, Tomáš Souček rose highest to meet a free kick and headed home. The Czech bench celebrated. Players celebrated. Then VAR intervened: offside. The goal was chalked off.
Before Czechia could recover emotionally or tactically from that blow, substitute Oh Hyeon-gyu struck. Just two minutes later, a precise cross from Hwang In-beom found Oh arriving at the back post. Simple tap-in. 2–1. The timing was ruthless. The execution was perfect.
Kim Seung-gyu: the last line of defence
Czechia was behind and came hard at them. Korea Republic’s goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu had other ideas. In the final fifteen minutes, he produced two vital saves in quick succession — both times denying what looked like certain equalisers as the Czech side pushed men forward. With just two minutes of stoppage time remaining, he pushed away a final attempt and confirmed the three points.
If Korea Republic’s attacking play defined the first hour, Kim’s goalkeeping defined the last fifteen minutes. Without him, this is a very different result.
What this result means?
Korea Republic sit top of Group A on three points alongside Mexico. The victory was not entirely clean — their vulnerability defending set pieces was evident, and Krejčí’s header will not be the last time they are tested from dead balls. But this team showed genuine character: they went behind, stayed composed, and found a way.
Czechia, disciplined and organised as they were, could not hold on. Their next Group A fixture against South Africa is now a must-win. For millions of Indian fans following the 2026 FIFA World Cup™ from home, this was the opening night result that sets up everything that follows.
Every match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup™ is live on ZEE5 in India. Korea Republic’s next Group A clash is coming up — don’t miss a moment. Explore ZEE5 FIFA subscription plans and watch live.
Disclaimer: Subscription pack prices are subject to change from time to time. Please visit the subscription page for the most up-to-date pricing information.
