A masterclass from midfielder Hwang In-beom inspired Korea Republic to a thrilling 2-1 comeback victory over Czechia in their opening FIFA World Cup 2026™ Group A fixture at the Guadalajara Stadium. Hwang scored a spectacular equalizer before turning provider for the winning goal, ensuring the Taegeuk Warriors started their campaign with all three points.

First-Half Frustration for Korea

Korea Republic dominated the opening 45 minutes, asking continuous questions of the Czech defense. However, they found Czechia goalkeeper Matěj Kovář in inspired form.

The first major warning sign came in the 14th minute when Paris Saint-Germain star Lee Kang-in cut inside and unleashed a fierce, left-footed strike, forcing a brilliant save from Kovář.

As the half progressed, talisman Son Heung-min found himself at the center of the action. The captain flashed a pair of decent opportunities just off-target before agonisingly failing to connect with a dangerous cross in first-half stoppage time, leaving the sides deadlocked at the break.

Czechia Strike Against the Run of Play

The pattern of the match continued early in the second half, with Son once again denied by the impenetrable Kovář just 11 minutes after the restart.

Then, in the 59th minute, Czechia stunned the stadium by taking the lead completely against the run of play. West Ham’s Vladimír Coufal launched a trademark long throw-in from the right flank into the heart of the penalty area. Captain Ladislav Krejčí anticipated the trajectory perfectly, soaring through the air to thunder a powerful header past a helpless Kim Seung-gyu.

The Hwang In-beom Show

Going a goal down ignited the South Korean attack, and it took just eight minutes to find a response. In the 67th minute, Lee Kang-in unlocked the Czech defense with a sublime, lofted pass into the path of Hwang In-beom. Hwang smartly cut inside his marker before dinking a delicious finish over the rushing Kovář to restore parity.

With momentum firmly on their side, Korea Republic pushed for the winner. It arrived in the 80th minute, courtesy of brilliant vision from Hwang. Seizing space on the right wing, Hwang drilled a perfectly weighted low cross into the box, allowing Oh Hyeon-gyu to ghost in and calmly tuck the ball home.

Defensive Heroics Secure the Points

Faced with defeat, Czechia threw everything forward in a desperate search for an equalizer. They came incredibly close in the 82nd minute when Adam Hložek hit a powerful strike destined for the back of the net, only for Kim Seung-gyu to pull off a phenomenal, match-winning save.

Korea Republic held firm through the final whistle to celebrate an important historical milestone. The result marks their third consecutive World Cup victory over European opposition, building on their famous wins against Portugal in 2022 (2-1) and Germany in 2018 (2-0). The victory places Korea Republic level with Mexico at the top of Group A.