The 2026 World Cup has officially kicked off with an absolute thriller in Group A! On June 12, 2026, at the Estadio Guadalajara in Zapopan, Mexico, South Korea went head-to-head against the Czech Republic in a tactical masterclass that kept football fans on the edge of their seats until the final whistle. Manager Hong Myung-bo rolled out a surprising 3-4-3 formation, anchoring the defense with Bayern Munich star Kim Min-jae and leading the attack with the legendary Son Heung-min, Lee Jae-sung, and PSG’s maestro Lee Kang-in. Here is the complete breakdown of how this unforgettable match unfolded. Match Overview &Starting Lineups Second Half Drama: From Heartbreak to Heroics After a tense, scoreless first half where both defenses held firm, the match exploded with action in the second period. 59′ — Czech Republic Draws First Blood The breakthrough came just before the hour mark. Czech defender Ladislav Krejčí found the back of the net, assisted by Vladimir Coufal, putting the Czech Republic ahead 1-0 and silencing the traveling South Korean fans. 63′ – 64′ — The Tactical Shift Responding immediately to the deficit, Coach Hong Myung-bo brought on Hwang Hee-chan for Lee Jae-sung to inject raw pace into the wings. Concurrently, the Czech Republic made a triple substitution, bringing on Adam Hložek, Tomáš Chorý, and Michal Sadílek to lock down their lead. 67′ — Hwang In-beom Equalizes! (Assisted by Lee Kang-in) The tactical adjustments paid off instantly. PSG’s midfield wizard Lee Kang-in delivered a pinpoint assist to Hwang In-beom, who clinically finished to bring South Korea level at 1-1. 69′ — Bold Substitutions by Hong Myung-bo Looking for the winner, South Korea made a brave double substitution, bringing off captain Son Heung-min and Lee Tae-seok, replacing them with Oh Hyeon-gyu and Eom Ji-sung. 78′ — VAR Rescue Drama hit a fever pitch when the Czech Republic appeared to score a second goal. However, after a tense VAR review, the goal was disallowed, keeping the score deadlocked. 80′ — Oh Hyeon-gyu Completes the Comeback! The super-sub delivered when it mattered most. Oh Hyeon-gyu found the back of the net following a brilliant setup by Hwang In-beom, completing a stunning turnaround to put South Korea up 2-1. 84′ – 96′ — Closing out the Victory To secure the three points, South Korea fortified their defense, subbing in Kim Jin-gyu and Park Jin-seob. Despite a late yellow card for defender Lee Gi-hyuk during 6 minutes of agonizing stoppage time, South Korea held on to claim a vital 2-1 victory. Final Match Statistics Metric South Korea Czech Republic Goals 2 (Hwang In-beom 67′, Oh Hyeon-gyu 80′) 1 (Krejčí 59′) Assists Lee Kang-in, Hwang In-beom Vladimir Coufal Yellow Cards 1 (Lee Gi-hyuk 96′) 0 Full-Time Score WIN (2-1) LOSS (1-2)