Day Two Recap: South Korea Beat Czech Republic
The second group-stage match of WC-2026 in Group A ended in a stunning comeback. South Korea defeated the Czech Republic 2:1, recovering after conceding first. Player Hwang In-beom scored a goal and provided an assist — a combination recorded for Korea at a World Cup only twice in the country's tournament history. The match took place in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Group A Standings After Two Matches
After the first round in Group A, Mexico and South Korea lead the table — both teams have collected three points each. Mexico beat South Africa 2:0 in the opening match on June 11 at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. The tournament's first goal was scored in the 9th minute by Julián Quiñones, while Raúl Jiménez sealed the result in the 67th minute. The Czech Republic and South Africa are yet to earn any points.
Red Card Controversy in Mexico vs. South Africa
The opening match will be remembered not only for its goals but also for disciplinary incidents. A total of three red cards were shown during the game: South Africa finished with nine men, and Mexico's César Montes was also sent off. Under FIFA rules, Montes will automatically miss Mexico's next match against South Korea. The tournament's first dismissal was handed to South Africa's Sfefelo Sithole — he became only the fourth player in history to be sent off in a World Cup opening match.
June 12 Schedule: Canada and USA Make Their Home World Cup Debuts
Two more host nations take the field on June 12. Canada face Bosnia and Herzegovina (Group B) at BMO Field in Toronto. Later, the USA host Paraguay (Group D) at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. Both matches mark the home debuts of the host countries and carry special significance for local fans.
Tournament Format and Scale
WC-2026 is record-breaking in terms of the number of participants: for the first time in history, 48 national teams are competing in the final stage, divided into 12 groups of four. A total of 104 matches will be played — the most in World Cup history. The top two teams from each group advance to the Round of 32, along with the eight best third-placed sides. The final will be held on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
- Group A: Mexico — 3 pts, South Korea — 3 pts, Czech Republic — 0, South Africa — 0
- June 12: Canada vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina (Toronto, Group B); USA vs. Paraguay (Inglewood, Group D)
- Upcoming matches: June 13 — Qatar vs. Switzerland; June 14 — Brazil vs. Morocco, Haiti vs. Scotland
