World Cup 2026 group stage: Korea draws Czech Republic, USA thrashes Paraguay

In the opening matches of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, South Korea faced the Czech Republic. Ladislav Krejčí gave the Czechs an early lead, but In‑Beom Hwang equalised shortly after, resulting in a 1‑1 draw. Analysts noted Korea's varied attacking approach but a lack of a clear threat, while the Czech side struggled to create chances beyond defensive solidity.

Canada played host against Bosnia and Herzegovina, ending in a 1‑1 stalemate after Jovo Lukic scored for Bosnia and Cyle Larin rescued a draw for the Canadians near the end of the match. Meanwhile, the United States defeated Paraguay 4‑1, with an own‑goal by Damian Bobadilla, a double from Folarin Balogun and a strike by Giovanni Reyna completing the victory.

These results set the tone for the tournament's group stage, highlighting early performances of key players such as Heung‑Min Son, whose impact has diminished, and confirming the United States as a strong contender in their group.