South Korea and Czech Republic meet for the first time at a World Cup on 12 June, opening their 2026 campaigns in Group A at Estadio Guadalajara. Co hosts Mexico and South Africa are also in the section, so the top two spots will be fiercely contested from the off. Czech Republic's first World Cup appearance since 2006 gives the fixture an edge Korea will look to exploit, even as both teams focus squarely on the points.
Hong Myung-bo and Miroslav Koubek have no prior meetings as managers and their routes here could not be more different. Hong took South Korea through AFC qualifying unbeaten, finishing top of their group, while Koubek, only appointed in December 2025, steered Czech Republic through European playoffs that required penalty shootout wins over both Ireland and Denmark.
South Korea arrive unbeaten through AFC qualifying after topping their group, while Czech Republic had a rougher road but came through the playoffs without significant injury and with momentum from those two shootout wins, having kept clean sheets in both final warm up games, a signal that Koubek's defensive shape has settled.
South Korea are close to full strength, with only defender Cho Yu-min ruled out and replaced by uncapped Cho Wi-je. Son Heung-min captains the side, with the likely shape a 4-2-3-1 or 3-4-3 featuring Kim Seung-gyu in goal, Kim Min-jae and Lee Han-beom in central defence, Hwang In-beom alongside Paik Seung-ho or Lee Jae-sung in midfield and Lee Kang-in, Hwang Hee-chan and Son behind Cho Gue-sung. Czech Republic have no fresh injury concerns from their friendlies, though midfield depth issues may push Koubek toward a three man defensive setup, with Matej Kovar in goal, Tomas Holes or Chaloupek and Hranac or Krejci at the back, Coufal, Soucek, Darida or Provod and Jurasek across midfield and Schick leading the line with Sulc or Hlozek in support.
Hong's Korea build through possession with Son and Lee Kang-in as two genuine one versus one threats Czech Republic will have no equivalent answer to. Koubek channels the team's energy into set pieces and a defensive shape built to absorb rather than press, which makes the duel between Son and the Czech full backs the most consequential on the pitch, with the Soucek versus Hwang In-beom battle in central midfield shaping how much space Korea get in behind.
The sides have met only three times, all friendlies, with South Korea's last win a 2-1 result in 2016, so there is no competitive history to draw on. Czech Republic's height at set pieces, with Schick, Hranac and Soucek all above 6ft, is their clearest route to a goal against Korea's defence and Schick winning headers in the box is their most reliable mechanism for doing so. Both squads arrive essentially at full strength for the altitude conditions in Guadalajara, with Amin Mohamed Omar refereeing.
Korea went through AFC qualifying without a defeat, Czech Republic needed penalty shootouts against both Ireland and Denmark just to get here. Son and Lee Kang-in give Korea two genuine one versus one threats Czech Republic have no equivalent answer to and against a Czech side built to defend rather than press, their movement in behind is likely to be the game's defining factor. Czech Republic's set piece threat is real enough to keep this close but Korea are the likelier winners. South Korea 2-1 Czech Republic.
Ryan Baldi
Football Writer
Ryan Baldi is a professional football writer with years of experience and has been featured by respected outlets such as the BBC, The Guardian, Sky Sports, DAZN, FourFourTwo, ESPN, Yahoo Sport and Football365. He has also written several books including Arsène Who?.
