South Korea have etched their name deeper into World Cup folklore, coming from behind to defeat the Czech Republic 2-1 in their Group A opener at the 2026 FIFA World Cup – marking their fourth comeback victory in tournament history, the most by any Asian nation.
At the iconic Akron Stadium in Guadalajara, the Taeguk Warriors produced a trademark display of resilience. After falling behind to a 59th-minute header from Czech captain Tomas Krejci, South Korea refused to buckle. Midfielder Hwang In-beom sparked the revival in the 67th minute, deftly rounding the goalkeeper before curling home the equaliser. Then, with just 10 minutes remaining, substitute striker Oh Hyeon-gyu – who had replaced captain Son Heung-min just 11 minutes earlier – pounced on Hwang’s precise cross to fire home the winner.
The remarkable turnaround was completed in just 13 minutes, making it the second‑fastest comeback in South Korea’s World Cup history – only two minutes shy of the record set against Nigeria in 2010.
‘Asian Comeback King’
With this victory, South Korea become the first Asian team to record four World Cup comeback wins, pulling clear of Saudi Arabia and Japan, who sit in joint second place with two each.
The full list of South Korea’s historic fightbacks:
· 2002 vs Italy (Round of 16) – Ahn Jung-hwan’s golden goal sealed a famous 2-1 extra‑time win.
· 2006 vs Togo (Group Stage) – Lee Chun-soo’s free-kick and Ahn Jung-hwan’s strike overturned an early deficit for a 2-1 victory.
· 2022 vs Portugal (Group Stage) – Kim Young-gwon equalised before Hwang Hee-chan’s dramatic 91st‑minute winner secured a 2-1 triumph and passage to the knockouts.
· 2026 vs Czech Republic (Group Stage) – Hwang In‑beom and Oh Hyeon‑gyu combined to complete the 2-1 turnaround.
A manager’s redemption
For head coach Hong Myung-bo, the victory carried deep personal significance. It marked his first comeback win since returning to the helm in August 2024 – a feat that had eluded him across 14 previous victories, all of which came from winning positions. In 2014, during his first spell as coach, South Korea managed just one point from their group. Twelve years on, Hong has rebuilt his reputation, entering the 2026 tournament with 14 wins from his last 23 matches.
Hong’s bold substitutions were decisive. After conceding, he immediately introduced Hwang Hee-chan to bolster the attack. Later, his decision to replace captain Son Heung-min with Oh Hyeon-gyu – a high‑risk gamble – paid spectacular dividends when Oh scored the winner just 11 minutes after coming on.
“We never lost belief,” Hong said after the match. “This team has a fighting spirit that runs deep.”
Breaking barriers and making history
The comeback rewrote multiple records:
First opening‑match win in 16 years – South Korea had not won their first World Cup game since beating Greece 2-0 in 2010, enduring three consecutive tournaments without an opening victory.
Asian first in a World Cup opener – No Asian team had ever conceded first against a European opponent in their opening match of a World Cup and gone on to win. South Korea changed that with their display in Guadalajara.
European streak – The victory extended South Korea’s remarkable winning run against European opposition at the World Cup to three consecutive matches: Germany (2-0) in 2018, Portugal (2-1) in 2022 and now Czech Republic (2-1) in 2026. No other Asian nation has managed this feat.
A troublesome opening‑game habit
The record also exposes a recurring vulnerability. Over the past 40 years, South Korea have conceded first in five of their 10 World Cup opening matches – and had failed to advance to the knockout stage on every previous occasion. This time, with the 2026 tournament expanded to a 32‑team knockout round allowing third‑placed finishers to progress, the comeback victory has dramatically improved their chances of reaching the round of 32.
‘Everyone who says they can’t hasn’t seen us fight’
Hwang In-beom, who was named player of the match for his goal and assist, emphasised the collective belief within the squad. “When we went a goal down, there was no panic. Everyone knows what we’re capable of – we’ve done this before,” he told reporters.
“When people say we can’t, they clearly haven’t watched us for very long.”
What’s next
The win places South Korea second in Group A on three points, behind hosts Mexico – who opened the tournament with a 2-0 victory over South Africa – on goal difference. Their next challenge comes on 19 June, again at the Akron Stadium in Guadalajara, against an imposing Mexican side buoyed by home support. The group stage concludes on 25 June against South Africa.
With the ‘Asian Comeback King’ crown now secured, the Taeguk Warriors will look to turn their resilience into a deep tournament run. After 24 years without a semi‑final appearance, the question now is whether the team that refuses to quit can go even further.
