South Korea and the Czech Republic will start their journey in the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a match in Guadalajara on Thursday, competing for essential points in Group A, which also features Mexico and South Africa.
On the same day, co-hosts Canada will host Bosnia and Herzegovina at BMO Field for a momentous matchup. FIFA has also confirmed on their official X handle the Record of 1,248 Players for Historic World Cup.
The South Korean national team marks its 12th World Cup participation, reinforcing their status as Asia’s most frequent entrants. Under the leadership of former captain Hong Myung-bo, the Taegeuk Warriors finished undefeated in AFC qualifying, winning 11 games and netting 40 goals.
Entering the tournament on a high note, South Korea has recently recorded wins against El Salvador and Trinidad & Tobago, boosting their morale ahead of the first match.
Conversely, the Czech Republic is making its first World Cup appearance since 2006. The team has gained momentum with six straight victories, recently defeating Kosovo and Guatemala in their preparatory matches.
The Czechs are recognized for their physicality and strength during set pieces, aiming to capitalize on this advantage, with a significant portion of their qualifying goals coming from dead-ball opportunities.
With only the top two teams guaranteed advancement to the knockout stage, both nations understand that a strong performance could be vital for their chances of progression. Furthermore, this contest marks the historical first World Cup clash between the two teams, adding to the significance of this Group A opener.
Team News
Captained by Son Heung-min, who is just two goals shy of equaling South Korea’s all-time scoring record set by Cha Bum-kun, he is expected to lead the attack on Thursday.
The striker, who plays for LAFC, has contributed to four of the Taegeuk Warriors’ last ten World Cup goals, tallying 14 goal involvements during AFC qualifying.
Hwang Hee-chan, Lee Jae-sung, and Paris Saint-Germain forward Lee Kang-in will play key roles in supporting Son’s offensive efforts.
Defensively, Bayern Munich’s Kim Min-jae will anchor a back three, although fellow defender Cho Yu-min will not participate due to a foot injury, leading to uncapped Jo Wi-je being called up as his replacement.
While Son is the standout player for South Korea, Patrik Schick boasts an impressive record for the Czech Republic, having netted six goals in seven major tournament matches and recording five goals during the qualifying rounds.
Pavel Sulc will be the primary playmaker for the Czechs, partnered with seasoned midfielder Tomas Soucek, who previously lost the captaincy this year.
Ladislav Krejci will captain the side, starting in a back three, while playoff penalty hero Matej Kovar is anticipated to take the position in goal.
Possible Lineups
South Korea possible starting lineup:
Kim Seung-gyu; Lee Gi-hyuk, Kim Min-jae, Lee Han-beom; Seol Young-woo, Hwang In-beom, Paik Seung-ho, Lee Tae-seok; Hwang Hee-chan, Lee Jae-sung; Son Heung-min
Czech Republic possible starting lineup:
Kovar; Chaloupek, Hranac, Krejci; Coufal, Cerv, Soucek, Jurasek; Provod, Sulc; Schick
How to watch
| Platform | Details |
|---|---|
| TV Broadcast | SuperSport |
| Live Stream | DSTVStream App |
| Kick-off Time | 3:00am (WAT) |
Match Predictions
Softfootball forecasts a 1-1 draw between South Korea and Czech Republic.
Despite the Czech team’s strong form, the match could be tightly contested, with both sides prioritizing the need to avoid defeat in their opener.
