The South Korean national soccer team, having secured a thrilling comeback victory in their opening match of the 2026 FIFA North America World Cup, is set to face a significant challenge in their second match against host nation Mexico. The team aims to break a 72-year 'second match winless curse' that has plagued them since the 1954 Swiss tournament.
Under the guidance of head coach Hong Myung-bo, South Korea will take on Mexico at 10 a.m. local time on June 19 at the Guadalajara Stadium. Following their 2-1 victory over the Czech Republic on June 12, the team has crossed a crucial milestone toward advancing to the knockout stage, but a win against Mexico is essential to secure a strong position in the group.
South Korea has participated in the World Cup finals 11 times, achieving three tournament advancements and a total of seven wins. However, the team has struggled in their second group stage matches, recording four draws and seven losses, resulting in a 0% win rate. During the 2002 World Cup co-hosted by South Korea and Japan, they drew 1-1 with the United States, and since a 1-1 draw against France in the 2006 tournament, they have lost four consecutive second matches.
The recurring issue has been conceding early goals and suffering heavy losses in these matches. In their 11 second matches, South Korea has scored only 10 goals while allowing a staggering 31, averaging nearly three goals conceded per game. Except for a 0-0 draw against Bolivia in the 1994 tournament, they have conceded the first goal in all other matches.
Mexico, the opponent in this second match, is also a formidable team. As co-hosts, they hold a FIFA ranking of 13, higher than South Korea's ranking of 21. Historically, South Korea has faced Mexico 15 times in A matches, with a record of four wins, three draws, and eight losses. In World Cup encounters, they have lost both previous meetings in 1998 (1-3) and 2018 (1-2).
Experts believe that Mexico's current strength is not as daunting as in previous years, suggesting that South Korea has a chance with a well-prepared strategy. KBSN analyst Kim Dae-gil noted on June 16, "After watching Mexico's match against South Africa, they are not as strong as expected. Their trademark speed and pressing remain, but their overall execution is not at the level seen in past World Cups."
The key to the match against Mexico will likely be the battle in midfield. Kim advised, "As the home team, Mexico will try to dominate possession. South Korea must not lose the midfield battle against their midfielders. If we deploy a 3-4-3 formation, we risk being outnumbered in midfield when we fall back to a five-man defense. The wing-backs must actively participate in the midfield battle to gain a numerical advantage."
On the offensive side, expectations are high for captain Son Heung-min of LAFC. He scored a consolation goal against Mexico in the 2018 World Cup and netted an equalizer in a friendly match last September. Kim stated, "As Mexico is likely to push their defensive line forward, we need to exploit the space behind them with sharp counterattacks. Son, with his speed, will shine in these situations. Although he missed some scoring opportunities in the Czech match, he will continue to improve as the tournament progresses. We expect to see the real Son Heung-min starting with the Mexico match."
A victory in this second match would mark the first time in South Korea's history that they achieve two consecutive wins in the group stage of a World Cup. It would also provide a significant advantage for advancing to the knockout stage, virtually securing their place in the round of 32 regardless of the outcome of the third match against South Africa. Even a draw would guarantee them first place in the group, making the path to the round of 16 much easier.
Kim emphasized, "It is far more advantageous to finish first in the group and maintain momentum in Mexico than to settle for second place and face a tougher schedule in the knockout stage. If we lose to Mexico, it could dampen our morale and jeopardize our chances against South Africa. Once in the knockout stage, winning against any team is challenging, and aiming for an easier draw as a second-place team is futile. Maintaining momentum is crucial in the World Cup."
Depending on the group stage results, there is a possibility of South Korea facing Japan for the first time in World Cup history. Currently, there are three scenarios in which the two teams could meet in the knockout stage. The most likely scenario is for South Korea to finish second in Group A and Japan to finish first in Group F. If Japan secures first place and South Korea finishes second, both teams would advance to the round of 32, setting the stage for a must-win clash in the round of 16. Japan, after a 2-2 draw with the Netherlands on June 16, will face Tunisia on June 21 and Sweden on June 26.
If South Korea finishes first in Group A and Japan comes in third in Group F, a Korea-Japan matchup could occur in the round of 32. This is because the first-place team in Group A will face the third-place team from Groups C, E, F, H, or I. However, Japan would need to secure a wildcard spot among the top eight third-place teams, adding an element of uncertainty based on other group results. Conversely, the scenario where both teams barely qualify as third-place wildcards is the least likely, as South Korea would need to defeat a strong team in Group G, and Japan would need to do the same in Group D to meet in the round of 16.
Regarding the potential for a historic Korea-Japan matchup, Kim cautioned against underestimating Japan's strength, which has reached a world-class level. He stated, "The notion that facing Japan is easier than meeting other teams in the knockout stage should be discarded. Objectively, Japan has a higher chance of winning in a head-to-head matchup. Their success is no longer a fluke; they are achieving results based on their abilities. Even strong teams like Spain and France cannot guarantee victory against Japan given their impressive performances."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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