Mexico - South Korea / 2026 FIFA World Cup

Follow the LIVE broadcast of the Mexico vs. South Korea match in Group A of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on ŠPORT.sk! The match, which you can also watch live on JOJ play, kicks off at 03:00 CET.

The 2026 World Cup is heating up, and the venue in Zapopan, Mexico, is preparing for a highly anticipated clash. Two teams that started their campaigns with convincing victories will take to the pitch. While the home side, "El Tri," moves from the capital after their winning opener, South Korea arrives buoyed by a valuable triumph over a European contender.

The Asian giants, making their twelfth World Cup appearance (eleventh consecutively), displayed immense mental fortitude in their opening match. Coach Hong Myung-bo's squad faced a tough challenge against the Czech Republic. After a tactical first half with few chances, they were stunned by a goal conceded in the 59th minute. However, this moment served as a perfect wake-up call. Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Lee Kang-in firmly took control of the game after the break, proving to be the undisputed man of the match.

Fortune also favored the Koreans, as the referees disallowed a goal for their European opponents less than three minutes before their decisive strike. However, the key move came from the Asian team's coach. He sent on Oh Hyeon-gyu, and this super-sub delivered the winning goal, making it 2-1. The only negative was the performance of offensive leader Son Heung-min. The star striker is visibly struggling with his form and fell short of his usual standards.

The host nation enters the match with euphoria. In front of their home crowd in the capital, the Mexicans gave South Africa no chance, securing a dominant 2-0 victory and an ideal start to the final tournament. Quiñones opened the scoring in the ninth minute, and seasoned striker Jiménez sealed the score after an hour of play. The Mexican defense functioned reliably, allowing the Africans a meager three shots on goal, but they face a significantly tougher test against the Asians.

The match against South Africa turned into a card-filled drama. Early in the second half, the tournament's first red card was issued, and the main referee surprisingly sent off two more players in a tense finale. For Mexico, this means a significant loss – defensive stalwart Montes will serve a disciplinary suspension for his red card. However, the home side will be driven forward by colossal support from the stands. The stadium in Zapopan is home to five of the nominated national team players, and the passionate crowd will undoubtedly create a powerful "twelfth man."

Historical World Cup statistics clearly favor the North American side. These opponents have met twice before in the World Cup, and on both occasions, the Mexicans emerged victorious – most recently eight years ago in Russia (2-1) and previously in 1998 (3-1). Last year, both teams faced off in a friendly, with spectators in Nashville, USA, witnessing an evenly matched game and a fair 2-2 draw.

Given the current form of both teams and the significant home advantage, a bet on Mexico to win at least one half seems an ideal choice for bettors. An alternative, statistically logical option is to bet on the second half as the highest-scoring period. For those seeking more complex wagers, the popular Betbuilder function offers a wide array of possibilities.