South Korea made a statement on the opening day of their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign, defeating Czechia to record their first opening-match victory at the tournament since 2010 — a wait of 15 years.

The result marks a significant moment for South Korean football, ending a run of frustrating opening-game results that had stretched across four World Cup cycles.

South Korea's last winning start at a World Cup came in South Africa, where they launched a memorable run to the round of 16. The revival against Czechia signals a renewed sense of intent from the squad.