Oh Hyeon Gyu Nets Winning Goal for Korea vs Czech Republic Despite Fever at World Cup 2026

Substituting for Son Heung‑min in the 69th minute, 25‑year‑old Oh Hyeon Gyu scored the decisive goal in the 80th minute, giving South Korea a 2‑1 victory over the Czech Republic in Group A of the 2026 World Cup in Guadalajara, Mexico. The goal came from a low cross by Hwang In‑beom, and it marked Oh's first World Cup goal and his seventh for the national team.

Before the match Oh had a high fever of 38 °C. He said, “I felt very tired with a fever of 38 °C, but the medical staff took good care of me, so I could play.” Despite the illness the doctors cleared him to start. The win sparked a wave of viral praise online, with fans highlighting his four‑year journey from a non‑numbered training partner at the 2022 Qatar tournament to a match‑winner.

Oh, who plays club football for Besiktas in Turkey, revealed that his father closed his restaurant to travel to Mexico to support him. The story has become a widely shared human‑interest narrative in South Korea.