South Korea beats Czechia in Group A comeback

Mexico defeated South Africa 2-0 in the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Azteca Stadium. South Korea came from behind to beat Czechia 2-1 later the same day, completing Group A's opening round. Quiñones and Jiménez each scored for Mexico. Brazilian referee Wilton Pereira Sampaio issued three red cards in the match, becoming a social‑media focus. Czechia opened the scoring through a Coufal throw‑in assist to Krejčí, who headed home. Hwang In-Beom equalised with a chipped finish after dribbling past a defender. He later delivered a long ball to Oh Hyeon‑Gyu, whose first‑time strike secured the win. Souček's header was ruled out for offside. The 13‑minute turnaround marks South Korea's second‑fastest World Cup comeback, after an 11‑minute reversal against Nigeria in 2010. During the first half, Lee Han‑Beom tore the Czech jersey, a noted incident. The tournament features 48 nations in 12 groups, with the top two and eight best third‑placed teams advancing to the Round of 32 on June 28‑July 3. Round of 16 runs July 4‑7, quarter‑finals July 9‑11, semifinals July 14‑15, and the final is set for July 19 in New Jersey. Upcoming fixtures on June 12 include Canada versus Bosnia in Group B and the United States versus Paraguay in Group D.