Midfielder Hwang In-Beom emerged as the hero on Thursday night at Guadalajara Stadium. With a spectacular goal and a clutch assist, he led the comeback that saw South Korea defeat Czechia 2-1 in the second match of the 2026 World Cup.
After a lackluster first half, which sent both teams to the locker rooms amid boos, the match exploded in the second half to give Guadalajara fans an electrifying finish.
The European scare and the “Tigers'” reaction
The European squad, marking its return to the World Cup for the first time since 2006, broke the deadlock in the 59th minute. After a long throw-in into the box, Czech captain Ladislav Krejci beat his marker and connected with a solid header that put South Korea on the ropes.
However, the goal served as the perfect wake-up call for South Korea. In the 67th minute, Hwang In-beom, currently playing for Feyenoord in the Netherlands, tied the game with a stroke of genius: he faked a shot to shake off two Czech defenders and finished coolly past the keeper.
Hwang himself orchestrated the winning goal in the 80th minute, breaking down the right flank to send in a precise cross that Oh Hyeon-gyu finished decisively into the back of the net.
Drama, stars on the field, and resilience
The match kept the crowd on the edge of their seats until the very last breath. The Czechs thought they had regained the lead in the 77th minute on another set piece, but Tomas Soucek’s header was ruled offside.
Meanwhile, the captain and star of South Korea, Son Heung-min (who now plays for LAFC in MLS), had a game of ups and downs. The 33-year-old forward, who is looking to become the all-time leading Asian scorer in World Cup history, missed a shot in the first half and saw the opposing goalkeeper stop a point-blank chance in the second half.
Key stats from the World Cup match in Guadalajara:
- Lethal streak against Europe: South Korea recorded its third consecutive World Cup victory against European opponents, following its resounding wins over Germany (2018) and Portugal (2022).
- Off to a good start: This is South Korea’s first victory in a World Cup opener since the 2010 tournament in South Africa.
- Atmosphere in the stands: The official attendance was 44,985 spectators in a stadium with a capacity of 45,664. Although it was a huge celebration, hundreds of empty seats were noticeable in the central sections during a match attended by FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
After the final whistle, the South Korean players celebrated euphorically with their fans behind one of the goals. “What makes me happiest is that our boys won without giving up,” said coach Hong Myung-bo. On the other side, Czech coach Miroslav Koubek acknowledged that “the better team probably won,” though he acknowledged the mistakes that cost them the result.
With this victory, South Korea takes a firm step toward its tournament aspirations, dreaming of advancing past the round of 16 for the first time since its historic run in 2002.
