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South Korea vs Czechia: World Cup clash begins
12 Jun
Summary
- South Korea, ranked 25th, faces 40th-ranked Czechia in their World Cup opener.
- Czechia returns to the tournament after a 20-year absence.
- Key players include South Korea's Son Heung-min and Czechia's Patrik Schick.
South Korea, Asia's most successful World Cup team, commences their 2026 campaign against Czechia. The Czech side makes its return to the tournament after a two-decade absence.
Ranked 25th globally, South Korea, featuring talents like Son Heung-min and Lee Kang-in, are favored in this Group A fixture. They aim for a strong start in a group that also includes co-hosts Mexico and South Africa.
Czechia, ranked 40th, enters the match with a strong squad including Adam Hlozek and Patrik Schick. Their coach Miroslav Koubek's appointment in December 2025 reportedly turned their fortunes around during qualification.
Historically, as Czechoslovakia, they were runners-up twice but have had limited success since. Their last appearance was a quarterfinal run in 1990.
The teams have met three times previously, with one win each and one draw. Their most recent encounter in June 2016 saw South Korea win 2-1.
Czechia boasts an impressive recent form, winning all their last five games, including dramatic penalty shootout victories in the UEFA qualifiers. South Korea's form is more mixed, with wins and losses in their recent friendlies.
The match is scheduled for Thursday at 8 pm local time in Estadio Guadalajara, Zapopan, Mexico.
