Czechia's Road to the World Cup
The Czech Republic was the 40th of 42 nations to secure qualification for the 2026 World Cup. They finished behind Croatia in the initial UEFA group phase and then advanced through Playoff Path D by defeating the Republic of Ireland and Denmark, both times winning on penalties after 2-2 draws.
Following qualification, Czechia played two farewell friendlies, beating Kosovo 2-1 in Prague and Guatemala 3-1 in New Jersey.
Overall, Czechia's recent form is difficult to assess as they have mostly competed against lower-ranked international teams over the past 18 months. Besides the two recent warm-up matches, they recorded a 1-0 friendly victory over San Marino in November. During qualifying, they faced Montenegro, Gibraltar, and the Faroe Islands, suffering one loss to the Faroe Islands by 2-1.
They have not defeated a team ranked in the world's top 50 since a 3-2 home win against Ukraine in 2024 and have not won a match at a major tournament since the round of 16 at Euro 2020/21.
South Korea's Qualification and Form
South Korea advanced through the AFC qualifiers with ease, securing their place at the finals as early as June 2025. They remained unbeaten throughout the 16-match campaign.
Since then, their friendly matches have produced mixed results, including heavy defeats to Brazil at home (0-5) and Ivory Coast in Milton Keynes (0-4), balanced by a 2-0 away victory over the USA.
In their last ten matches, South Korea has kept six clean sheets, winning all those games. Their two warm-up friendlies in Utah featured a 5-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago and a 1-0 victory against El Salvador.
Team Insights and Key Players
Regarding Czechia, David Čermák is recognized for his expertise in penalty shootouts.
The spine of the team is experienced. Tomas Soucek remains the leader in midfield despite being stripped of the captaincy after the players failed to thank the fans after a 6-0 win against Gibraltar…
Ladislav Krejci, the hard-tackling Wolves centre-back, took over as captain, scored in both playoff matches, and drove the team forward. In attack, Patrik Schick is expected to be the main offensive threat, with his fitness improving for Bayer Leverkusen towards the end of the 2025-26 season.
For South Korea, Seo Hyung-wook provides essential analysis, though not filled with optimism.
Key figures such as Son Heung-min, Kim Min-jae, Lee Kang-in, Lee Jae-sung and Hwang In-beom are all battling a cocktail of injuries, erratic club form and even being relegated to the bench.
The situation is particularly dire in central midfield, where a string of injuries have ruled out several candidates. In addition, Hwang has spent much of the season struggling to find his rhythm after suffering recurring physical setbacks.
Starting Lineups
Czechia XI
Czechia will line up in a 3-4-3 formation with Alexandr Sojka making his competitive debut alongside star man Tomáš Souček in midfield. The 23-year-old was first called up for the pre-tournament friendlies.
1 Matěj Kovář; 6 Štěpán Chaloupek, 4 Robin Hranáč, 7 Ladislav Krejčí; 5 Vladimir Coufal, 22 Tomáš Souček, 24 Alexandr Sojka, 20 Jaroslav Zelený; 17 Lukáš Provod, 15 Pavel Šulc, 10 Patrik Schick.
South Korea XI
The Taeguk Warriors will also deploy a 3-4-3 formation, led by captain and chief goalscorer Son Heung-min.
1 Kim Seung-gyu, 3 Lee Gi-hyuk, 4 Kim Min-jae, 2 Lee Han-beom, 22 Seol Young-woo, 6 Hwang In-beom, 8 Paik Seung-ho, 13 Lee Tae-seok, 19 Lee Kang-in, 10 Lee Jae-sung, 7 Son Heung-min.
Tournament Context and Commentary
Numerous columns will be written about this World Cup, but few will be as critical as Jonathan Liew's commentary on Gianni Infantino.
Perhaps you still regard sporting spectacle as your cherished escape from politics. In which case enjoy your World Cup of games split into four quarters, decimated by heat and exhaustion, compromised by an unfair qualification process. Enjoy your largely meaningless group stage, the thousands of empty seats, the masked police standing guard just at the edge of shot, the long lingering shots of Infantino and JD Vance in the stands.
Regarding predictions, the author’s bracketology forecast Spain defeating Argentina in the final and France edging England for third place.
DJ DG was acknowledged as the ideal choice for the tournament’s music, with a shout out to his family.
The opening ceremony was noted for Mexico’s passionate football culture, which added authenticity to the otherwise television-focused spectacle. A personal highlight was David Guetta’s appearance on the big screen during the official anthem, described as resembling a billionaire DJ generated by AI, serving as a metaphor for contemporary times.
Insights from the Opening Match in Mexico City
The opening match suggested the tournament will be slow-paced.
Even in relatively temperate conditions, and with few stoppages in play, the World Cup’s opening game still felt like a slog, which is likely to have set the tone for the tournament. With Fifa’s mandatory three-minute hydration breaks taken despite temperatures of just 22 degrees, the Brazilian referee, Wilton Sampaoi, did not blow his half-time whistle until 55 minutes after kick-off, even though just four minutes of added time had been played.
It appears likely that all matches will extend beyond two hours, with multiple stoppages and hot conditions potentially prolonging games further.
Venue Information: Estadio Guadalajara
The match will take place at Estadio Guadalajara, considered the most architecturally striking venue of the tournament. With a capacity of 45,000, it is the second smallest stadium but compensates with distinctive character.
The design draws inspiration from a volcano, featuring a sloping parkland rising to the upper levels and a white roof resembling a cloud hovering over the summit. Seating inside is arranged to mimic a red crater.
Known outside the World Cup as Estadio Akron, it is located in Zapopan, part of the Guadalajara Metropolitan Area in Jalisco state. It serves as the home stadium for Liga MX club Chivas De Guadalajara.
Match Preview and Context
Welcome to live coverage of the second match of the 2026 World Cup between South Korea and Czechia. Kick-off for this Group A encounter at Estadio Guadalajara is scheduled for 8pm local time (10pm EST / 3am BST / 12pm AEST).
Following an eventful opening ceremony featuring Shakira’s performance, three red cards, and a passionate host nation securing a celebrated victory, this second match is expected to be more subdued. It features two teams with indifferent recent form and modest expectations, playing during the late-night slot at the tournament’s second smallest venue.
South Korea arrives with a strong World Cup pedigree but confidence dented by recent heavy friendly defeats. This marks their 12th World Cup appearance, an Asian record, and their 11th consecutive finals, the fifth-longest active streak globally. They have won at least one match in five of the past six tournaments and advanced beyond the group stage three times, including in Qatar. However, recent losses of 5-0 to Brazil and 4-0 to Ivory Coast have tempered ambitions.
Son Heung-min remains the focal point of the team, though at nearly 34 years old, he is no longer the devastating attacking force of his prime and has yet to score in this season’s MLS. Other notable players include Paris Saint-Germain playmaker Lee Kang-in and Bayern Munich defender Kim Min-jae, both regular starters in domestic leagues but relegated to bench roles in the Champions League.
Czechia returns to the World Cup finals for the first time since 2006 and only their second appearance since the dissolution of Czechoslovakia. They qualified by narrow margins, winning consecutive playoff penalty shootouts.
Patrik Schick is the standout player, the Bayer Leverkusen striker averaging a goal every other game at international level. Tomáš Souček is influential in midfield, and Vladimír Coufal plays a key role on the right flank. Both Souček and Coufal are familiar to West Ham United supporters.
At 74 years old, Miroslav Koubek becomes the oldest coach in World Cup history tonight, a record he will hold briefly before 78-year-old Dick Advocaat takes charge of Curaçao’s team.
I will return shortly with team news and further preview content. Please feel free to join me during the coverage at jonathan.howcroft.freelance@the.com.
