South Korea meet Czech Republic in their first Group A match at 2026 FIFA World Cup.
South Korea are making their 12th appearance at the World Cup, whilst Czech Republic are making their second appearance at the main tournament since their split from Slovakia – under whom they competed together as Czechoslovakia before both countries became individual countries in 1992.
Team News
Bae Jun-ho is a doubt for South Korea after he suffered an ankle injury in a 5-0 friendly win over Trinidad & Tobago.
Czech Republic have a full squad fit for selection, including Wolves’ Ladislav Krejci and West Ham’s Tomas Soucek.
When is Kick-Off?
South Korea meet Czech Republic at Estadio Akron, Zapopan, on 11 June at 8pm CST (2am BST, Friday 12 June), live on ITV1 and ITVX in the UK.
Stat Attack
- This is South Korea’s first World Cup meeting against Czech Republic.
- Czech Republic are facing South Korea on neutral territory for the first time in all competitions.
- South Korea have scored six goals in their last two matches without conceding (W2).
- Czech Republic are yet to keep a clean sheet in 2026 (W2, D2), in which they scored nine goals and conceded six goals.
Prediction
Although my instinct is that both teams should safely advance to the knockout stages, this match is key to the hopes of both clubs to potentially top the group, so I am expecting a close game given South Korea’s inconsistency so far this year against Czech Republic’s shaky defence and reliable goalscoring run.
Although this can go either way, my instinct is that we are heading for a draw.
Prediction: South Korea 1-1 Czech Republic
Result: South Korea 2-1 Czech Republic