Luis Romo scored the only goal in Mexico’s 1-0 win over South Korea in Guadalajara, taking advantage of a goalkeeper mishap by Kim Seung-Gyu and clinching a World Cup Round of 32 spot.
For Mexico’s home fans in Jalisco. the breakthrough came in a moment that looked almost accidental—until Luis Romo struck it cleanly. The Chivas de Guadalajara midfielder. a surprise starter. opened the scoring against South Korea in the 50th minute with an alert finish that had the stadium on its feet.
Mexico’s 1-0 win in Guadalajara didn’t just edge past a tough opponent. It clinched a spot in the World Cup’s Round of 32.
Romo’s goal started with chaos in front of goal. Kim Seung-Gyu appeared to come out with the ball after a Korea defender sent it into the air inside the box. But as Kim tried to bring it down, he collided with Lee Gi-Hyuk and spilled it in the area.
Raul Jimenez, lurking in the danger zone, had already done what strikers do best—stay close. Romo stood near the penalty spot and watched the mistake unfold. When the ball dropped loose. he swung his foot around and scored into the empty net. turning a goalkeeper’s misjudgment into Mexico’s single decisive moment.
The sequence left little doubt about how Mexico got their margin: a set-up that bled into a scramble, a goalkeeper spill, and then the simplest kind of payoff—being in the right place when the game briefly forgot to be fair.
Mexico now prepares for the next stage after reaching the Round of 32. The national team is back in the World Cup for the 18th time after last qualifying in 2022, and its best tournament results came in the quarterfinals in 1970 and 1986—both as host nation.
Mexico entered the 2026 World Cup as Hosts, earning a berth despite being ranked No. 14 in the FIFA Men’s World Rankings. Its base camp is the Centro de Alto Rendimiento in Mexico City.
Next match details
Mexico will play South Africa on June 11 at 3 p.m. ET at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on FOX.
Mexico will face South Korea on June 18 at 9 p.m. ET at Estadio Akron in Zapopan, Mexico on FOX.
Mexico will close out the schedule against Czechia on June 24 at 9 p.m. ET at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on FOX.
Streaming is available on Fubo or the Fox One App. Spanish-language broadcasts are available on Telemundo and Peacock.
Mexico World Cup roster
Goalkeepers: Raul Rangel (Chivas). Carlos Acevedo (Santos Laguna). Guillermo Ochoa (AEL Limassol)
Defenders: Israel Reyes (Club América). Jesús Gallardo (Toluca). Jorge Sánchez (PAOK). César Montes (Lokomotiv Moscow). Johan Vásquez (Genoa). Mateo Chávez (PSV)
Midfielders: Erik Lira (Cruz Azul). Luis Romo (Chivas). Obed Vargas (Atlético Madrid). Brian Gutiérrez (Chivas). Orbelín Pineda (AEK Athens). Edson Álvarez (Fenerbahçe). Gilberto Mora (Club Tijuana). César Huerta (Anderlecht). Álvaro Fidalgo (Real Betis). Luis Chávez (Dynamo Moscow)
Forwards: Roberto Alvarado (Chivas). Alexis Vega (Toluca). Julián Quiñones (Al-Qadsiah). Santiago Gimenez (AC Milan). Guillermo Martínez (Pumas). Armando González (Chivas). Raúl Jiménez (Fulham).
Mexico vs South Korea Luis Romo Kim Seung-Gyu World Cup Round of 32 Guadalajara Jalisco Raul Jimenez Chivas de Guadalajara Mexico schedule FIFA Men's World Rankings
That goalkeeper messed up bad wow.
Mexico fans really did it at home again. I didn’t even realize that was the Round of 32 clincher but here we are.
Wait so the goalie came out and hit his teammate? That’s what it sounds like. Also Raul Jimenez being “lurking” is basically just… lucky positioning, not skill lol.
Opportunistic finish is right, but honestly I feel like the whole collision thing is on the ref or VAR or something. Like if they just let the ball go it wouldn’t become a comedy goal. Guillermo whoever should’ve been there sooner too. Either way Mexico got through, so I guess it worked out.