Asian powerhouse Korea came back from a goal down to defeat Czechia 2-1 in their FIFA World Cup 2026 Group A opener at Estadio Guadalajara in Mexico.
The game came alive after a scoreless first-half with Czechia taking the lead through Ladislav Krejci in the 59th minute.
But the Koreans came back strongly with goals from Hwang In-beom and Oh Hyeon-gyu to seal a deserving tie that they had dominated.
Korea will next face hosts Mexico, who had defeated South Africa 2-0 in their opening match.
Korea started with a strong attacking quartet led by US-based Son Heung-min supported by Hong Myong-bo, Lee Kang-in and Lee Jae-sung.
After a tentative start, Korea had their first look at goal in the 12th minute after Kang-in and Jae-Sung teaming to set-up Heung-min. But the Los Angeles FC forward saw his shot deflected out of play.
Lee Han-beom came close moments later when he angled his headed attempt wide from the ensuing corner, before Kang-in forced Czechia keeper Matej Kovar making a brillinat save.
Czechia, making their return after a twenty year absence, came alive in the 15th minute when Lukas Provod got the better of Lee Gi-hyuk on the right flank before sending the ball into the danger area, forcing Bayern Munich centre-back Kim Min-jae to intervene with a timely challenge.
They almost found a breakthrough in the 22nd minute when Alexandr Sojka’s corner slipped through to Tomas Soucek, who inadvertently sent the ball wide of the left post.
Heung-min, making his fourth FIFA World Cup appearance, wasted opportunities from distance on the counter-attack in the 38th minute and again a minute later before Korea Republic’s best chance of the half went begging in first half stoppage time.
The captain played a neat one-two with Lee Tae-seok, only to mistime his effort from inside the box, before In-beom fired wide as the score remained goalless at the break.
Korea started on the offensive after the break with In-beom forcing Kovar into a fine save from distance in the 48th minute before the Czechia custodian used his body well to deny Jae-sung on the rebound.
Heung-min then had a wonderful opportunity to put Korea ahead in the 56th minute when Jae-sung slipped a neat ball into his path, only for the No 7 to see his effort blocked by a diving Kovar.
The East Asian side were made to pay for the missed chances as Czechia took the lead in the 59th minute with Ladislav Krejcio heading into the back of the net off Vladimír Coufal’s long throw.
Stung into action, Korea piled forward and were finally rewarded in the 67th minute after In-beom collected Kang-in’s pass into the box, side-stepped the Czechia defenders and Kovar before finishing with a delicate lob into the bottom right corner.
Czechia thought they had regained the lead in the 77th minute through Soucek’s powerful header off a set-piece only for it to be ruled offside with Korea Republic then completing the turnaround three minutes later.
Paik Seung-ho sent a long pass to In-beom, whose cut-back was met by substitute Hyeon-gyu, who finished from close range to give Korea Republic the lead.
Czechia tried to find their way back but Korea keeper Kim Seung-Gyu made sure of the three points with fine saves to deny Adam Hlozek’s close-range effort in the 82nd minute and Michal Sadilek’s grounded effort in stoppage time.
