South Korea defeats Czech Republic 2‑1, coach Hong Myung‑bo lauded ahead of Mexico clash

South Korea's national football team opened the 2026 North‑Central America World Cup with a 2‑1 comeback win over the Czech Republic. The comeback was sparked by a decisive substitution by coach Hong Myung‑bo, who replaced Son Heung‑min with Oh Hyun‑kyu; Oh helped set up the winning goal. The tactical move earned praise from domestic analysts and BBC commentator Clinton Morrison.

Following the victory, Hong said the team will carry the positive momentum into the second group‑stage match against Mexico on June 19 in Guadalajara. South Korea has never won a second‑round group match at a World Cup, and it has lost both previous encounters with Mexico (1998 and 2018). The upcoming game offers a chance to break that jinx, with both sides aware of the historic record and Mexico’s higher FIFA ranking (13th vs Korea’s 22nd).