Korea's Hwang Myung-bo Eyes Advancement Despite Draw with Mexico

Son Heung-min warms up at the Guadalajara Stadium in Mexico ahead of the match against Mexico on June 18, 2026. [Photo=Yonhap News]

The South Korean national soccer team, led by coach Hwang Myung-bo, missed the chance to secure a direct ticket to the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA North America World Cup after failing to overcome host nation Mexico. However, they still have a chance to advance to the Round of 32 on their own terms.
Korea will face South Africa in their final Group A match on June 25 at 10 a.m. KST at the Estadio BBVA in Monterrey. Currently, Korea holds a record of one win and one loss (3 points), placing them second in the group. The outcome of this last match will ultimately determine their advancement.
In their previous match on June 19, Korea lost 1-0 to Mexico at the Estadio Akron in Guadalajara. After a strong start with a 2-1 comeback victory over the Czech Republic in their opening match, Korea faltered due to a critical defensive error in the fifth minute of the second half.
With this victory, Mexico secured first place in the group with 6 points, regardless of the results of the remaining matches. In another match held the same day in Atlanta, the Czech Republic and South Africa ended in a 1-1 draw. Both teams now have one draw and one loss (1 point each), but the Czech Republic sits third due to a better goal difference (-1) compared to South Africa (-2).
In this tournament, the top two teams from each group, along with the eight best third-placed teams, will advance to the Round of 32. If teams are tied on points, the 'winner of the winner' rule is applied first, followed by overall goal difference, total goals scored, and fair play points.
To secure a spot in the Round of 32, Korea needs at least a draw or a win against South Africa. If they finish with 4 points after a draw, they will maintain second place, even if the Czech Republic beats Mexico, as Korea won their earlier match against the Czech Republic.

Coach Hwang Myung-bo encourages his players during a hydration break in the match against Mexico on June 18, 2026. [Photo=Yonhap News]

If Korea loses to South Africa, the situation becomes complicated. If Korea loses and the Czech Republic defeats Mexico, both the Czech Republic and South Africa would finish with 4 points, pushing Korea to the bottom of the group and eliminating them. However, even with a loss, there remains a slim chance for Korea to advance. If the Czech Republic fails to win against Mexico, Korea could still finish third and have a chance to qualify as a wildcard by comparing results with other third-placed teams.
Finishing second in the group is crucial for the upcoming knockout stage. If Korea advances as the second-place team in Group A, they will face the second-place team from Group B on June 29 in Los Angeles. Currently, Canada and Switzerland are leading Group B. Conversely, if they finish third, they could face strong contenders like Germany or Belgium right from the Round of 32.
Korea's next opponent, South Africa, is currently dealing with significant player absences. They will be without Temba Zwane, who is suspended after a red card in their first match, and Thabo Mokoena, who scored the equalizer against the Czech Republic but is also unavailable due to accumulated yellow cards.
Despite South Africa's player losses, Coach Hwang remains cautious. After the match against Mexico, he told reporters, "While it is true that key players are missing due to suspensions, I believe that is not the most important factor. Such situations can actually disrupt the mental state of the players, so we need to focus on our own preparation. We have observed South Africa's two matches, and they have shown good speed and physicality, so we need to prepare well in those areas. We will continue to organize ourselves in the remaining time."

* This article has been translated by AI.