GUADALAJARA: South Korea ended a 16-year wait for a winning World Cup opener with a 2-1 comeback victory over Czechia in their Group A match at Estadio Guadalajara on Thursday.

After conceding in the 57th minute, South Korea responded strongly with goals from Hwang In-Beom and Oh Hyeon-Gyu to secure all three points and a positive start to their 2026 campaign.

The Koreans dominated possession throughout the match but initially struggled to convert chances, controlling 62 percent of the ball while relying mostly on long-range efforts in the first half.

Lee Kang-In created early pressure with a long-range strike that forced a save, as South Korea’s attacking wingbacks pushed high in a flexible 5-2-3 setup that often shifted into a more aggressive formation.

The win marks South Korea’s first opening-match victory at a World Cup since 2010, breaking a streak of slow starts in recent tournaments.