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South Korea’s Comeback Win — Son Heung-min Leads the Charge at World Cup 2026
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is officially underway, and South Korea wasted no time delivering one of the first big stories of the tournament — a gritty 2-1 comeback win over Czechia in their Group A opener.
Held at Estadio Guadalajara in Zapopan, Mexico, the match had everything: a goalless first half, a shock Czechia lead, and a South Korean comeback led by their captain, Son Heung-min.
What Happened in the Match
South Korea kicked off their 2026 FIFA World Cup Group A campaign with a 2-1 comeback victory over Czechia on Thursday at Estadio Guadalajara, rallying from a second-half deficit to claim all three points. MLSsoccer.com
After a cagey first half, Czechia struck first in the 59th minute when captain Ladislav Krejci powered home a header from Vladimir Coufal’s long throw. Outlook India
South Korea didn’t stay behind for long. Hwang In-beom responded with a brilliant solo effort to level the match, beating two defenders with skillful footwork before delicately chipping home the equalizer. MLSsoccer.com
The winner came late. In the 80th minute, Hwang picked out substitute Oh Hyeon-gyu with a dangerous cross, and Oh met it from close range with a shot that took a slight touch off the goalkeeper on its way into the net. MLSsoccer.com
Son Heung-min’s Performance
While Son didn’t get on the scoresheet, he was central to South Korea’s control of the match. Son was a consistent threat throughout the match as South Korea controlled play, nearly opening the scoring in the 39th minute with a long-range effort, and forcing a reaction save early in the second half with a clean look on goal. MLSsoccer.com
South Korea held an 11-2 advantage on shot attempts — a clear sign of their dominance, even if the finishing took until the second half to arrive. NBC News
This was Son’s first World Cup appearance since his move to MLS. Son joined LAFC in late 2025 as MLS’s league-record signing following a decorated run with Tottenham Hotspur, where he became a club icon. The South Korean captain has been a fixture for his national team, tallying 56 goals in 146 international appearances heading into Thursday’s World Cup opener. MLSsoccer.com
Group A Standings After Day 1
Mexico opened the tournament earlier on Thursday with a 2-0 win over South Africa. With South Korea’s win over Czechia, South Korea joined Mexico atop Group A, both sitting on three points after the opening round of matches. Outlook IndiaMLSsoccer.com
South Korea now moves to second place in the Group A table and will face Mexico in their next game. Meanwhile, Czechia, despite scoring the opening goal, lost the clash and will now need a win against South Africa to keep their campaign alive. The Sunday GuardianThe Sunday Guardian
That sets up a massive clash — South Korea vs Mexico, both unbeaten, both fighting for top spot in Group A.
Why This Match Matters for Bettors
South Korea vs Mexico is shaping up to be one of the most-watched Group A fixtures. Two co-favorites, both coming off wins, both with everything to play for.
For Malaysian bettors, this is exactly the kind of match worth paying attention to:
- High stakes — winner likely tops the group
- Star power — Son Heung-min is one of Asia’s biggest football names, always a draw for Asian audiences
- Form — both teams looked sharp in their openers, expect goals
If you’re new to betting on football matches like this, Play666 covers all the major markets — match winner, total goals, handicap, and more.
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