The 2026 World Cup opened with a bang in Guadalajara, as South Korea pulled off a thrilling 2-1 comeback against the Czech Republic.
The first half was a tense battle. Korea controlled possession through stars like Son Heung-min and Lee Kang-in, but Czechia’s defense held firm, and the teams went into halftime scoreless.
Then came the drama. In the 58th minute, Czechia shocked everyone by taking the lead, their first World Cup goal in two decades. Korea’s hopes were fading fast.
But manager Hong Myung-bo made a bold move, subbing off Son to inject fresh energy.
It worked immediately. Hwang In-beom leveled the score with a gorgeous chip in the 66th minute, and just 13 minutes later, substitute Oh Hyeon-gyu completed the comeback, firing home the winner.
Czechia pushed hard for an equalizer, but Korean keeper Kim Seung-gyu stood tall, preserving the 2-1 victory.