South Korea goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu balances World Cup debut with newborn arrival

Goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu, 35, travelled to Mexico for the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup while his wife, model Kim Jin-kyung, gave birth to their child. From the airport he sent video messages to support his wife, who promised to reunite the family after the match. On the field, Kim made several key saves as South Korea staged a comeback to defeat the Czech Republic 2‑1.

The same match at Guadalajara’s stadium was marked by numerous empty seats. Despite FIFA’s claim that attendance was near capacity, observers noted large gaps in the crowd, attributing the shortfall to steep ticket prices. A fan complained, "Lần đầu tiên trong đời tôi thấy nhiều ghế trống đến thế này ở một trận đấu World Cup."

Social media criticism of the pricing policy grew alongside praise for Kim’s performance and the team’s victory.