South Korea and Czech Republic in First Late-Night World Cup Clash

South Korea and the Czech Republic are set to kick off the first late-night match in the European time zone at the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. Both teams are drawn into Group A, which also features co-hosts Mexico and South Africa.

The Koreans enter the tournament on an impressive high, currently ranked 25th in the FIFA standings. Their journey to the World Cup saw them navigate the Asian qualifiers with relative ease. They began their campaign in the second round of the Asian zone, dominating Group C with five wins, one draw, and a remarkable 20:1 goal difference against China, Thailand, and Singapore. In the third round, the "Tigers" continued their strong form, securing qualification for the 2026 World Cup with a six-point lead over second-placed Jordan in Group B. They remained undefeated, recording six wins and four draws against Iraq, Oman, Palestine, and Kuwait.

Meanwhile, the Czech Republic reached the World Cup finals after a dramatic qualification process that included play-offs. They finished second in their group, trailing Croatia but ahead of the Faroe Islands, Montenegro, and Gibraltar. The Czechs suffered two defeats – one to Croatia and a surprising loss to the Faroe Islands – but still managed to secure the runner-up spot. In the subsequent play-offs, the Czech Republic triumphed twice in penalty shootouts, benefiting from home advantage in both matches. They first overcame Ireland in the semi-finals after a late equalizer made it 2-2 in regular time, before defeating Denmark in the final.

The South Korean team has won their last two matches, but earlier in the spring, questions arose about their form following losses to Ivory Coast and Austria. Captain Heung-min Son remains their biggest star and the player they rely on most; he currently plays for FC Los Angeles. The Czechs are on a six-game winning streak, but their defense appears somewhat vulnerable, having conceded goals in all but one of those matches.