South Korea faces Czechia in Guadalajara on Thursday night to complete Group A’s first-day action of the 2026 World Cup, with Son Heung-min needing two goals to tie the country’s all-time international scoring record.
The first day of the 2026 World Cup ends in Guadalajara with South Korea and Czechia set to meet on Thursday night, a Group A clash that closes out the opening slate and puts Captain Son Heung-min in the spotlight early.
South Korea arrives with a resume that’s almost impossible to ignore: the Koreans have qualified for every World Cup since 1986. Czechia, by contrast, is making its first appearance in 20 years, turning the matchup into a measuring stick from minute one.
Son. South Korea’s all-time leader with 144 appearances. is also chasing a landmark that can be reached in this tournament opener. He needs just two international goals to tie the country’s record. The LAFC attacker—who developed with Tottenham before joining Major League Soccer in 2025—will be central to how South Korea tries to turn early pressure into control.
The match matters in the wider Group A picture because Mexico has already seized momentum. Earlier in the day, Mexico grabbed control of Group A with a 2-0 win over South Africa. That game featured three red cards in the second half. a reminder that this group’s opening rhythm has been anything but calm.
South Korea vs Czechia kicks off at 10:00 p.m. ET. The broadcast is on FS1, with streaming available through the FOX One App. Spanish-language coverage is set for Telemundo and Peacock.
For viewers looking to watch online, the games are available on Fubo.
With lineups due about an hour before kickoff. the key question is how quickly South Korea can impose its experience on a Czechia side returning to the World Cup after a two-decade absence. The narratives before kickoff all lean toward a Korea side that has seen more of the world’s biggest stages. and that belief is shared across predictions from multiple writers.
Seth Vertelney predicts South Korea 2-1 Czechia, arguing Korea has a more talented roster with more World Cup experience and that the game should be tight, with the Taeguk Warriors edging it.
Jon Arnold also leans toward Korea, calling for a 2-0 win. He points to South Korea training at altitude. more World Cup experience. and the expectation that Son will be able to get the best of his matchup early and often—leading an attack that he describes as designed to frustrate what he views as perhaps the weakest European team that made the finals.
Jesse Yomtov goes further, predicting South Korea 3-1 Czechia, with Son leading a veteran Korean team expected to handle the Czech challenge and start the tournament on the right foot.
Victoria Hernandez predicts a more decisive opening, South Korea 3-0 Czechia, saying Son Heung-Min and South Korea will start with plenty of momentum against a Czechia team she describes as simply weaker.
June’s schedule already maps out the stakes for both sides after this opening match. South Korea’s next game is June 18 vs. Mexico in Guadalajara at 9 p.m. On June 24, South Korea faces South Africa in Monterrey at 9 p.m.
The broader group schedule also begins with Mexico’s early result and ends tonight with South Korea vs. Czechia in Guadalajara at 10 p.m. ET, closing out Group A’s first day as the tournament settles into its long run.
South Korea vs Czechia Son Heung-min 2026 World Cup Group A Guadalajara FS1 FOX One App Telemundo Peacock Mexico vs South Africa