Five key takeaways from South Korea's 2-1 win over Czechia in FIFA World Cup 2026
(Courtesy : Getty Images)
South Korea secured a narrow win over Czechia.
The second game of Group A saw South Korea cruise past the Czech Republic 2-1 in the FIFA World Cup 2026. However, it was Czech who found the back of the net first before South Korea came from behind to score two goals. Hwang In-beom found the equaliser before Oh Hyeon-gyu put South Korea in the driving seat of the game.
The Taegeuk Warriors secured an important win. They opened their World Cup campaign with three points. They will hope to continue in this rhythm for the rest of the World Cup games.
Five important things we learned:
5. South Korea’s dominance over European nations
This was the third time the Taegeuk Warriors beat a European nation in the FIFA World Cup. Their first win against a European side was when they overcame Germany 2-0 in the 2018 World Cup. This was before beating Portugal 2-1 in the 2022 World Cup.
They continued their stunning record in the current World Cup. They came from behind to secure a 2-1 victory over Czechia.
4. Czechia create an unwanted record at the FIFA World Cup
After appearing in the World Cup for the first time in 20 years, Czechia hoped to begin their World Cup campaign with a positive result. But the nation suffered a bittersweet defeat. This is despite scoring first in the game and raising the hopes of the fans.
South Korea were quick to reply and emerged victorious with a narrow scoreline. With this defeat, Czechia have now lost all three of their previous FIFA World Cup matches in Guadalajara.
Meanwhile, the only team to suffer four defeats in a single city in World Cup games are Belgium. They lost all four in Mexico City.
3. Hwang In-beom, hero of the game
Hwang In-beom was the man to lead South Korea to a win against Czechia in their opening World Cup 2026 game. He first brought South Korea back into the game before providing a winning assist in the match, which helped them secure a 2-1 win.
In doing so, he became just the third South Korean player to register a goal and an assist in a World Cup match. Choi Soon-ho managed this feat against Italy in 1986. Hong Myung-bo, who currently coaches the national side, did so against Spain in 1994.
2. Son Heung-Min’s fourth World Cup
South Korea’s star player Son Heung-Min made his fourth appearance at the World Cup, becoming only the second South Korean to do so. The former Tottenham Hotspur forward has been leading Korea since the 2014 World Cup. He made his debut appearance in that one.
Since then, he has remained constant in the starting lineup. The 2026 World Cup could be his last competition. He hopes to guide South Korea further in the tournament.
1. Czechia’s first World Cup goal in 20 years
Czech Republic opened their first FIFA World Cup (2026) game in 20 years in a stunning fashion against South Korea. They broke the deadlock in the 59th minute to take the lead in the game. It was none other than Wolves centre-back Ladislav Krejčí.
He found the back of the net with an impressive finish. Moreover, this was their first goal in the competition in 20 years.
Who scored first goal in the game?
Czechia opened the scoring.
Where do South Korea stand in the group table?
They are second in Group A after the win.
When is Czechia’s second match?
On 18th June, 9:30 pm. IST against South Africa.
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After earning a bachelor's degree in mass media, Rajarshi began his career as a sports writer in 2019, driven by his passion for sports journalism. He has been working in the field for over six years. A devoted fan of Lionel Messi and Barcelona, Rajarshi has been involved in sports since childhood. Before turning his focus to journalism, he even represented his college at the state level. Along with covering football, he enjoys playing the game, watching movies, and experimenting with new recipes in his spare time, as cooking is one of his favorite hobbies.