The Czechs secured their place by beating Denmark 3-1 on penalties after the teams were tied 1-1 after 90 minutes and 2-2 after extra time in the UEFA playoff Group D final at Epet Arena in Prague on April 1 (Korea time).
It sends the Czech Republic to the World Cup finals for the first time in 20 years, since the 2006 tournament in Germany.
With the Czech qualification, Group A is complete. South Korea will compete with Mexico, South Africa and the Czech Republic for a place in the round of 32.
South Korea, coached by Hong Myung-bo, will face the Czech Republic in its group opener on June 12 at 11 a.m. at Akron Stadium in Guadalajara, Mexico.
The Czech Republic is ranked 43rd by FIFA, below South Korea at No. 22. The Czechs finished second in their European qualifying group behind Croatia to reach the playoffs, then advanced by beating Ireland on penalties in the semifinals and upsetting Denmark, which had been rated the stronger side, in another shootout in the final.
The Czech Republic has a history of notable World Cup results. As Czechoslovakia, it finished runner-up in 1934 in Italy and in 1962 in Chile, and reached the quarterfinals in 1938 in France and in 1990 in Italy. Under the Czech Republic name, it appeared only at the 2006 World Cup and was eliminated in the group stage.
South Korea is 1-2-2 all-time against the Czech Republic. Their most recent meeting was a friendly in June 2016, which South Korea won 2-1.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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