South Korea comes from behind to beat Czech Republic 2-1: Hwang In-beom's class at the 2026 World Cup.

The South Korean national team kicked off their 2026 World Cup campaign with a spirited victory against the Czech Republic. Despite falling behind in the second half, the brilliant performance of Hwang In-beom and the sound tactical adjustments of coach Hong Myung-bo helped the Asian representatives secure a full three points in their opening match of Group A.

The deadlock in the first half and the punishment from a set piece.

Entering the match, both teams opted for a 3-4-3 formation, creating a direct confrontation in the midfield. South Korea, with the skillful duo of Lee Kang-in and Son Heung-min, took the initiative in controlling the tempo. Captain Son Heung-min constantly tested the opposing defense with dangerous shots, but the excellent performance of Czech Republic goalkeeper Kovar kept a clean sheet for the European side throughout the first 45 minutes.

Conversely, the Czech Republic persisted with a defensive style of play, prioritizing solidity and waiting for opportunities to exploit on the counter-attack. This tactic paid off in the 59th minute. From a powerful throw-in by Coufal, center-back Ladislav Krejci capitalized on his aerial ability to head the ball past goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu, opening the scoring.

Hwang In-beom's spectacular comeback.

The conceded goal forced South Korea to increase the tempo of their all-out attack. In the 67th minute, the turning point of the match occurred when Lee Kang-in made a delicate through pass to Hwang In-beom. The midfielder showed his class with a skillful move to beat defender Hranac before chipping the ball in to equalize the score at 1-1.

The match became more dramatic when the Czech Republic had a goal disallowed due to Soucek's offside in the 78th minute. Immediately, South Korea launched a decisive counter-attack. In the 80th minute, Hwang In-beom again broke down the right wing and delivered a precise cross for Oh Hyun-gyu to tap in from close range, making the score 2-1.

The courage to protect achievements.

The injury time saw suffocating pressure from the Czech Republic. In the 90+4th minute, striker Sadilek nearly snatched a point if not for a spectacular save by goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu. The final whistle blew, confirming a breathtaking but well-deserved victory for Coach Hong Myung-bo's team.

Match statistics for South Korea vs Czech Republic

Starting lineup