Mexico became the first team to secure qualification for the Round of 32 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after defeating South Korea 1-0 in a Group A match at Akron Stadium, Guadalajara, Mexico, on Friday, June 19, 2026.
The only goal of the match was scored by Luis Romo in the 50th minute. The goal came after South Korean goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu left his line to catch a header from Raul Jimenez. However, he collided with his own teammate, Lee Gihyuk, as he landed, causing the ball to come loose. Romo was perfectly positioned to capitalize on the mistake and calmly slotted the ball into the net.
With the victory, El Tri temporarily top the Group A standings with six points from two consecutive wins. Meanwhile, South Korea remain in second place and still have a chance to advance to the next round. The Taegeuk Warriors have collected three points so far.
Third place is occupied by the Czech Republic, which was held to a 1-1 draw by South Africa in the group’s other match. Both the Czech Republic and South Africa have one point each, having recorded one draw and one defeat.
In the final group-stage matches on June 25, Mexico will face the Czech Republic, while South Korea will take on South Africa in a decisive battle for the remaining ticket to the Round of 32.
Mexico head coach Javier Aguirre said the match was extremely challenging because South Korea applied relentless pressure throughout the game.
“They did not give us any space, and neither did we. In the end, it felt like a single mistake would always make the difference between winning and losing. It was not a great match, and our opponents did not give us many opportunities,” Aguirre said, as quoted by FIFA.
Meanwhile, South Korea head coach Hong Myung-bo expressed disappointment with the result.
“We played according to our plan. The way we conceded was very disappointing. We will give everything in our final group-stage match. I told the players to remain calm and play our game. It was not a bad performance. We stayed composed throughout the match. Now we will focus on preparing for the next game,” he said.
Czech Republic and South Africa Share the Points
Elsewhere, the Czech Republic was forced to settle for a 1-1 draw against South Africa at Atlanta Stadium.
The Czechs took an early lead when Michal Sadilek scored just six minutes into the match. However, a victory that seemed within reach slipped away after Teboho Mokoena converted a penalty in the 83rd minute to equalize for South Africa.***
