In-depth Analysis
South Korea endured a difficult start to 2026 after suffering a series of disappointing results during the March international friendlies. Under the guidance of Hong Myung-bo, the Taegeuk Warriors were thrashed 4-0 by Ivory Coast before narrowly losing 1-0 to Austria just a few days later. However, those setbacks appear to have served as motivation for the Asian side, which significantly improved its performances during the final phase of preparation for the 2026 World Cup.
Once the team arrived in the United States for its warm-up matches, South Korea looked like a completely different side. The Koreans cruised to a 5-0 victory over Trinidad and Tobago, with Son Heung-min scoring twice, while Cho Gue-sung and Hwang Hee-chan also found the net. They then carried that momentum into another win, edging past El Salvador to conclude their preparations on a positive note.
These encouraging results have boosted South Korea's confidence ahead of its opening match against Czech Republic, a fixture widely viewed as crucial in the battle for qualification from the group. With an experienced squad and several players capable of producing moments of brilliance, the Asian representative is expected to make a strong start.
Meanwhile, the Czech Republic faced a far more difficult route to the World Cup. The Central European nation had to survive two tense playoff matches, defeating Republic of Ireland and Denmark in penalty shootouts to secure a place in North America. It also marks the Czech Republic's first World Cup appearance since 2006.
As part of their preparation, coach Miroslav Koubek and his players recorded positive friendly victories against Kosovo and Guatemala. While those results improved morale, the lack of star power compared to South Korea means the European side is still considered the underdog heading into this encounter.
With improving form and a stronger squad on paper, South Korea has every reason to aim for a positive result in its opening match and build momentum toward reaching the knockout stage of the 2026 World Cup.