Hours after the Estadio Azteca opener, the second Group A fixture kicks off in Guadalajara. South Korea arrive with Son Heung-min wearing the armband at what he himself has called possibly his last World Cup. Czechia are a side in transition under new manager Miroslav Koubek and a brand new captain in Ladislav Krejci.
Why: Both sides arrive in goalscoring form. South Korea have hit at least one goal in 8 of their last 10 matches across qualifiers and friendlies, and Czechia's strikers averaged a goal every 90 minutes during qualifying. Korea's defence has leaked in 7 of the same 10 fixtures. Czechia's central midfield duo of Soucek and Provod allow attacks down both flanks, where Son and Hwang Hee-chan thrive. The matchup style screams open game, and the BTTS Yes price still leaves value at 1.78.
Son returned to club football closer to North America with a summer move to LAFC, and is fresh from a strong MLS half-season. He has scored in 5 of his last 8 starts for South Korea and is the only world-class winger on either side of this fixture. The Czechia full-backs are bookable types who will struggle with his runs in behind. Typical Anytime price 2.30.
Soucek is one of the Premier League's most-carded midfielders, picking up 23 yellow cards across all competitions for West Ham in 2025-26. Czechia will sit deep and try to break Korea's attacks; Soucek will be the man making the cynical fouls on Hwang In-beom and Lee Jae-sung as they break forward. Anytime Card price typically around 2.40.
The match is at Estadio Akron in Zapopan, a suburb of Guadalajara. The ground opened in 2010 as the home of Chivas Guadalajara, one of Mexican football's two most popular clubs alongside Club America. Capacity 49,850, modern build with steep stands that pen in the noise.
Estadio Akron will host four group-stage matches and one Round of 32 fixture at the 2026 World Cup. Sitting at 1,540 metres above sea level, altitude is a factor though less brutal than Mexico City's 2,240m. Both teams played their final pre-tournament friendlies at altitude to acclimatise.
South Korea's defining World Cup memory remains 2002, when Guus Hiddink's side stunned the world by reaching the semi-finals on home soil, beating Italy and Spain along the way. No other Asian nation has matched that run before or since. The squad of Park Ji-sung, Hong Myung-bo (now the manager) and Ahn Jung-hwan became national icons.
Modern Korea is built around Son Heung-min. The 33-year-old captain has 134 caps and 51 international goals, and has publicly said this is likely "my last World Cup". He spent the season at LAFC after his Tottenham departure, and his form on the West Coast has been strong: goals, assists, and the leadership that manager Hong Myung-bo has built the squad around.
Something cool: South Korea will be the only Asian side at this World Cup managed by a former World Cup semi-finalist. Hong Myung-bo captained the 2002 squad to fourth place, becoming the first Asian player to finish in the top three of the Ballon d'Or that year.
Czechia's football history is rich. As Czechoslovakia they reached two World Cup finals (1934 and 1962) and as Czech Republic they were runners-up at Euro 1996. The Patrik Berger / Pavel Nedved / Karel Poborsky generation defined a decade of European football.
The modern side is less star-studded. Patrik Schick at Bayer Leverkusen is the headline name with 24 international goals in 50 appearances. Tomas Soucek at West Ham anchors midfield. The big leadership shift came in March 2026 when Ladislav Krejci took the armband after Soucek's earlier dismissal as captain.
Something cool: Patrik Schick scored what many consider the goal of the tournament at Euro 2020: a 49.7-metre lob from near the halfway line against Scotland in the group stage. He is one of only a handful of players to score from beyond the halfway line at a major international tournament.
Son was named Korea captain in 2018 after Ki Sung-yueng stepped back. He has held the role for three Asian Cup campaigns and now his fourth World Cup. Career achievements include the Premier League Golden Boot in 2021-22, shared with Mohamed Salah, and the 2023 AFC Asian Cup Best Player award.
After 10 years at Tottenham (where he scored 173 goals across all competitions), Son made the summer 2025 move to LAFC. The relocation places him on the same continent as the World Cup and has visibly preserved his sharpness: he is third in MLS for goal involvements at the season midpoint.
He is Korea's all-time top scorer and the country's only realistic challenger for a goal of the tournament moment. At 33 with this likely his swan song, the urgency is real.
Krejci was confirmed as Czech captain on 23 March 2026, replacing Tomas Soucek after his dismissal from the role in a difficult qualifying campaign. The 26-year-old Girona centre-back has been outstanding in La Liga, helping the Catalan side establish themselves in the top flight after their record-breaking 2023-24 campaign.
His passing range from defence and aerial dominance make him a modern centre-back in the mould of Ruben Dias or Antonio Rudiger. Manager Miroslav Koubek wanted a leader whose football style aligned with the rebuild, and Krejci's combination of composure on the ball and physical aggression off it fits the brief.
His first major tournament as captain begins against South Korea. A win sets up a realistic shot at qualification from Group A; defeat puts huge pressure on the South Africa fixture five days later.
South Korea finished AFC qualifying top of Group B with 8 wins from 10, securing their 11th consecutive World Cup appearance. Recent friendlies have been mixed: a 1-1 with Mexico in March and a 2-1 win over Bolivia in May. Goals are coming, with 22 across 10 matches, but defensively they've leaked in 7 of the same 10.
Czechia squeezed through European qualifying via the playoffs after finishing second in their group behind Croatia. They are unbeaten in their last 5 friendlies but only one of those was against a tier-1 European side. Schick has scored in 3 of his last 4 internationals, with the 30-year-old Bayer Leverkusen striker entering this tournament in the best club form of his career.
Based on each side's most recent friendly. Final XIs confirm one hour before kick-off; this page will update.
| Date | Match | Venue | Preview |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Jun | Mexico vs South Africa | Mexico City | Preview → |
| 11 Jun | South Korea vs Czechia | Guadalajara | This page |
| 18 Jun | Czechia vs South Africa | Atlanta | Preview → |
| 18 Jun | Mexico vs South Korea | Guadalajara | Preview → |
| 24 Jun | Czechia vs Mexico | Mexico City | Preview → |
| 24 Jun | South Africa vs South Korea | Guadalajara | Preview → |
All four teams, qualification scenarios and BetBot predictions: See full Group A overview →
Thursday 11 June 2026 at 22:00 ET (04:00 CEST Friday 12 June, 10:00 KST). Estadio Akron, Guadalajara. The match is the second of three Group A fixtures on opening day.
Left winger Son Heung-min (LAFC). He took the armband in 2018 and has 134 caps with 51 international goals. He has publicly said this is likely his last World Cup.
Centre-back Ladislav Krejci (Girona), confirmed as captain on 23 March 2026 after Tomas Soucek's earlier dismissal from the role.
Patrik Schick scored a 49.7-metre lob against Scotland at Euro 2020, one of the most famous goals in European Championship history. The Bayer Leverkusen striker enters his first World Cup with 24 international goals in 50 appearances.
Son turns 34 in July. He has played in three previous World Cups (2014, 2018, 2022) and has publicly stated the 2026 tournament is likely his final one. Korea built their entire qualifying campaign around making it his.
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