The Czech Republic’s long-awaited return to the FIFA World Cup takes centre stage in Zapopan as they face Asian powerhouse South Korea in the second Group A fixture of the tournament.

Match News and Current Form

South Korea cruised through qualification for the 2026 World Cup, becoming the only nation to remain unbeaten across two rounds of AFC qualifying (W11, D5). Their reward is a place in a record-breaking 12th World Cup finals, making them the first Asian nation to achieve that feat.

This tournament marks the Taegeuk Warriors’ 11th consecutive World Cup appearance and presents an opportunity to banish memories of several underwhelming campaigns. Manager Hong Myung-bo is overseeing his second spell in charge, having resigned after South Korea’s disappointing group-stage elimination in 2014. Since captaining his country to a historic fourth-place finish at the 2002 World Cup, Myung-bo has witnessed mixed fortunes on the global stage, with South Korea failing to progress beyond the group phase on three occasions.

The Czech Republic, meanwhile, will participate in the World Cup as an independent nation for only the second time, following their group-stage exit in 2006. Their route to North America has been far from smooth.

Captain Tomáš Souček was stripped of the armband after failing to acknowledge supporters following a 6-0 victory over Gibraltar, while manager Ivan Hašek was dismissed just a month before qualification was secured after a shock 2-1 defeat to the Faroe Islands. His successor, Miroslav Koubek, successfully guided the world’s 41st-ranked side through two play-off ties, masterminding penalty shootout victories over both the Republic of Ireland and Denmark in Prague to book their place at the finals.

Head-to-Head

This will be the first competitive meeting between the two nations and their first encounter since a friendly in 2016, which South Korea won 2-1.

Key Stats

• Fourteen of South Korea’s last 15 matches have seen only the winning team score.
• Twelve of South Korea’s last 13 World Cup goals have arrived in the second half.
• Each of the Czech Republic’s last five matches has produced over 2.5 goals.
• The Czech Republic scored 11 goals from set-pieces during UEFA qualifying, more than any other nation.

Players to Watch

South Korea captain Son Heung-min finished as his country’s leading scorer in qualification with ten goals. The Tottenham forward also demonstrated his leadership qualities by captaining Spurs for much of their successful 2024/25 UEFA Europa League campaign.

For the Czech Republic, Patrik Schick remains their primary attacking threat. He was the nation’s top scorer in qualifying with five goals and boasts an impressive record of six goals in seven appearances at major international tournaments.

Team News

South Korea face late fitness concerns over defender Lee Tae-seok and Stoke City midfielder Bae Jun-ho ahead of the opener.

The Czech Republic, by contrast, appear to have a fully fit 26-man squad available.

Betting Analysis

With both sides likely to approach their opening fixture cautiously, this could be a match that takes time to come to life. South Korea’s disciplined defensive record and the Czech Republic’s desire to avoid an early setback suggest clear-cut chances may be limited during the opening stages.

Best Bet: Half-Time Draw

Tournament openers are often cagey affairs, and with both teams likely to prioritise defensive stability before taking risks, a level scoreline at the interval looks a sensible selection.