South Korea overturns Czech Republic 2-1 in World Cup group opener

In the opening match of Group A at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, South Korea defeated the Czech Republic 2‑1. The Czech side took the lead early in the second half when Kreič headed in from a cross. South Korea responded quickly: Hwang Hyun‑gan (黃仁範) equalised, and minutes later substitute forward Wu Xian‑kui (吳賢揆) scored the winning goal. Team captain Son Heung‑min (孫興慜) created several chances but did not score. The victory gave South Korea its first opening‑match win in three World Cups and broke a long‑standing “first‑match curse.” It also marked the Czech Republic’s return to the tournament after a 20‑year absence, ending their debut with a narrow loss.

Wu Xian‑kui’s story attracted attention; previously a training‑squad player without a kit number, he rose to prominence after a successful stint in Turkey and scored within 11 minutes of entering the game. His parents’ mud‑loach soup shop in Gyeonggi‑do featured in social‑media tributes following the win.