South Korea produced a thrilling comeback victory to defeat Czechia 2-1 in their 2026 FIFA World Cup Group A opener at Estadio Akron on Friday, June 12.
The Asian giants looked down and out after Czechia struck first through Ladislav Krejčí’s 59th-minute header from a Vladimír Coufal cross, but coach Hong Myung-bo’s tactical substitutions sparked a dramatic turnaround that sent Korean fans into delirium.
Responding swiftly to the opener, South Korea’s Hwang In-beom scored a stunning equalizer in the 67th minute. The midfielder received a pass from Lee Kang-in while breaking into the box and calmly finished past goalkeeper Matěj Kovář, who had moved off his line, to level the score at 1-1.
“It was an ankle-breaking equalizer,” the Fox Sports highlight described of Hwang’s technical finish that lifted the ball Kovář.
The comeback was completed in the 80th minute when Oh Hyun-gyu scored the winner. Hwang In-beom delivered an accurate cross into the penalty box, where Oh Hyun-gyu fired a direct shot straight into the center of the goal to secure South Korea’s 2-1 lead and complete the tense comeback.
Coach Hong Myung-bo made crucial substitutions that changed the match. In the 58th minute, he replaced Lee Jae-sung with Hwang Hee-chan. Just minutes later, in the f64th minute, he brought on Oh Hyun-gyu and Eom Ji-sung for Son Heung-min and Lee Tae-seok, refreshing both the attack and the flanks.
The tactical changes proved decisive, with both substitute players contributing to the comeback victory.
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Despite conceding in the second half, South Korea dominated the first 45 minutes, finishing with 8 shots compared to Czechia’s 3, without allowing a single shot on target. The match remained 0-0 at halftime.
This victory marks South Korea’s 11th consecutive World Cup appearance, while Czechia returns to the global stage after a 20-year absence. The two sides have met three times historically, with each team winning one match and one draw, making this World Cup encounter their most significant meeting.
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South Korea will now look to build on this momentum as they continue their Group A campaign in Guadalajara, with the win providing a crucial boost in their quest to advance to the Round of 32.
The match ended with South Korea celebrating one of their most memorable World Cup opening victories, thanks to Hwang In-beom’s equalizer and Oh Hyun-gyu’s late winner that sealed the dramatic 2-1 comeback against Czechia.
