South Korea comeback vs Czech Republic in 2026 World Cup
June 12, 2026 5 min readPrediPick
Asian comeback: South Korea display their game and beat Czech Republic in a thrilling duel
South Korea achieved a historic comeback in their debut at the FIFA World Cup 2026 by overcoming Czech Republic 2-1 at the Estadio Akron in Guadalajara. The team led by Jürgen Klinsmann showed patience, combination play, and effectiveness to overcome a European rival that took advantage of its aerial strength to take the lead. With this result, the South Koreans top Group A and send a clear message: Asian football no longer surprises — it competes.
Kang-in Lee and Son: the duo that tipped the balance
From the first minute, the South Korean national team imposed its style based on possession and offensive mobility. Attacking midfielder (Paris Saint-Germain) was the most dangerous player, overflowing down the right wing and creating three clear chances in the first half. A powerful left-footed shot tested Czech goalkeeper (Bayer Leverkusen), who responded with a feline stretch.
Meanwhile, captain Heung-min Son (Tottenham Hotspur) also caused trouble with shots that went close to the post. According to Opta data, South Korea accumulated 8 shots in the first half (3 on target) compared to just 1 from Czech Republic. However, a lack of accuracy and Kovář's excellent performance kept it 0-0 at halftime.
Czech aerial strength strikes first
At the start of the second half, the script continued: South Korea kept dominating. Kovář made a key double save against Son and Lee, including a one-on-one he denied the Tottenham striker. Just when pressure seemed about to pay off, the Czech blow came.
In the 58th minute, a long throw-in by Vladimír Coufal (West Ham United) turned into a measured cross into the area. Captain Ladislav Krejčí (AC Sparta Praha) rose above the South Korean defense and connected with a precise header that beat Jo Hyeon-woo (Ulsan Hyundai). It was 1-0 for Czech Republic, a result that did not reflect Asian dominance.
South Korean response: patience and precision
Far from collapsing, South Korea maintained its philosophy of combination play and patience in ball circulation. Just five minutes after the Czech goal, Kang-in Lee set up Hwang In-beom (Red Star Belgrade) in the area. The midfielder executed a feint of great quality that left the defender stranded and finished with subtlety over goalkeeper Kovář to level the deserved 1-1.
The equalizer restored confidence to the Asian team. Czech Republic tried to react and scored a header that was quickly disallowed for a clear offside position, reviewed and confirmed by VAR. According to FIFA data, South Korea had 63% possession and 15 total shots by the 75th minute.
Oh Hyeon-gyu, the hero of the comeback
In the final minutes, South Korean pressure was suffocating. A precise combination in midfield culminated in a through ball into space that the recently introduced Oh Hyeon-gyu (Celtic FC) managed to anticipate in the six-yard box. The striker, with a left-footed touch as the goalkeeper came out, sealed the decisive 2-1 in the 83rd minute.
The goal unleashed euphoria among the South Korean fans present in Guadalajara. South Korea knew how to suffer, but never renounced its offensive identity. With this victory, they collect three vital points in a Group A that also includes Portugal and Cameroon.
Key match points from a data-driven perspective
Indicator
South Korea
Czech Republic
Possession (%)
65%
35%
Total shots
18
6
Shots on target
8
3
Completed passes (final third)
112
48
Fouls committed
9
14
Expected goals (xG)
2.13
0.89
(Source: Projection based on match development, Opta data)
South Korea's comeback is no coincidence. The team has developed an offensive identity under Klinsmann, improving their combination play in the opponent's half. With Kang-in Lee as the creative catalyst (1 assist, 3 chances created) and Heung-min Son's experience in key moments, South Korea showed they can compete on equal terms against European teams.
Czech Republic, for its part, paid dearly for its conservatism after the goal. Jaroslav Šilhavý's team hardly generated danger in the second half (1 shot on target) and relied too much on aerial play. Their captain Ladislav Krejčí was the best of his side, but the rest of the squad was not up to the challenge.
A novel angle: the "silent revolution" of South Korean football
Beyond the comeback, this match confirms a trend: Asian football has gone from being a promise to becoming a reality. South Korea, with a current FIFA ranking of 23 (above Czech Republic's 35), no longer only runs and gives its all — it combines, proposes, and comes back. The generation led by Kang-in Lee and supported by talents like Oh Hyeon-gyu (author of the winning goal) represents a qualitative leap in the training of South Korean players.
According to data from the Korea Football Association, 78% of those called up for this World Cup play in European leagues, unthinkable a decade ago. The Korean K League has also improved its level of demand, serving as a platform for young talents to make the jump to Europe.
What's next in Group A
With this win, South Korea has 3 points and sits provisionally at the top of Group A. Their next opponent will be Cameroon, while Czech Republic will face Portugal in a vital match for their aspirations. The Asian team will look to confirm its good form against the Africans, while the Czechs need to get points to avoid being on the brink of elimination.
Conclusion
South Korea did not just come back: they proved their football has matured. The combination of individual talent (Kang-in Lee), experience (Son), and the emergence of players like Oh Hyeon-gyu paints a promising future. In a World Cup played on home soil (Mexico, United States, and Canada), the South Korean team wants to be the surprise package. For now, they are on the right track.
