DOHA: South Korea national football team defeated Czech Republic national football team 2–1 in a FIFA World Cup 2026 match on Friday, coming from behind in the second half after a goalless first period.
Both sides struggled to break the deadlock in the opening 45 minutes, with strong defensive setups keeping scoring chances limited.
The Czech Republic took the lead early in the second half, but South Korea responded with two quick goals to turn the match around and secure all three points.
South Korea’s equalizer came through Wang E-bum in the 67th minute, before the Asian side completed their comeback with a second goal later in the half to seal a 2–1 victory in the group-stage encounter of the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Earlier, the FIFA World Cup 2026 kicked off with a dramatic and record-breaking opening match as hosts Mexico defeated South Africa 2–0 at the iconic Estadio Azteca.
The opening fixture saw Mexico dominate proceedings against South Africa in a high-intensity contest, securing a comfortable victory in front of a home crowd.
However, the match will be remembered not only for the result but also for a rare disciplinary record in World Cup history. For the first time ever in a World Cup opening match, three red cards were shown.
The referee sent off two South African players and one Mexican player during the game, adding an unexpected twist to the tournament’s curtain-raiser.
According to records, there have been only seven instances in FIFA World Cup history where a single match featured three or more red cards. The highest number remains four red cards, issued during the 2006 World Cup clash between Portugal and the Netherlands.
The dramatic opener has set an intense tone for the rest of the tournament.