They haven't played in a World Cup in two decades
En el Estadio de Guadalajara, dos naciones con historias muy distintas se encuentran por primera vez en un Mundial: Corea del Sur, con once participaciones consecutivas y ambiciones renovadas, y la República Checa, que regresa al torneo tras veinte años de ausencia ganados a pulso en la repesca europea. Este primer partido del Grupo A no es solo un duelo de estilos futbolísticos, sino el encuentro de dos formas de llegar al mismo umbral: la continuidad y el reencuentro.
- Corea del Sur llega con estrellas consolidadas en el fútbol europeo —Lee Kang-in en el PSG, Kim Min-jae en el Bayern— y la presión de confirmar que Qatar 2022 no fue un accidente.
- La República Checa carga con el peso simbólico de dos décadas fuera del Mundial, pero también con la energía de quien ha tenido que ganarse cada centímetro del camino.
- Schick, Soucek y Sulc forman un tridente creativo que ha derrotado a rivales de nivel —Kosovo, Irlanda, Dinamarca— y que no llega a Guadalajara a completar el cuadro.
- El primer partido del grupo suele marcar el pulso de toda la campaña: una victoria o una derrota aquí puede redefinir las prioridades tácticas y emocionales de ambos equipos.
- Corea parte como favorita según el contexto y la experiencia acumulada, pero la República Checa llega con una forma reciente que desafía su posición 41 en el ranking FIFA.
En el Estadio de Guadalajara —casa del Chivas y sede de torneos internacionales desde 2010— se disputa el primer partido del Grupo A del Mundial 2026, y con él, el primer encuentro en la historia del torneo entre Corea del Sur y la República Checa. Para los coreanos, es la undécima participación consecutiva, una constancia que habla de un programa futbolístico maduro y ambicioso. Para los checos, es un regreso cargado de significado: no pisaban un Mundial desde Alemania 2006, y su boleto llegó tras superar una exigente repesca de la UEFA.
Corea del Sur llega con argumentos sólidos. Lee Kang-in, elegido mejor jugador de Asia la temporada pasada con el PSG, y Kim Min-jae, pilar defensivo del Bayern de Múnich, son las figuras de un equipo que en Qatar 2022 ya demostró que puede competir con las mejores selecciones del mundo al alcanzar los octavos de final. No son promesas: son profesionales que actúan semana a semana en los clubes más exigentes de Europa.
La República Checa, por su parte, no llega de puntillas. En su camino al Mundial venció a Kosovo, Irlanda y Dinamarca, construyendo una confianza que su posición en el ranking —puesto 41— no refleja del todo. Patrick Schick, goleador en el Bayer Leverkusen, lidera el ataque. Tomas Soucek y Pavel Sulc —este último, elegido mejor jugador checo del año— dan consistencia al mediocampo. Y el capitán Ladislav Krejci, defensa del Wolverhampton, ordena la retaguardia.
Este partido inaugural tiene más peso del que aparenta. En una fase de grupos, el primer resultado suele condicionar el ánimo, la táctica y las expectativas de todo lo que viene después. Corea parte con ventaja en papel, pero la República Checa ha demostrado que está aquí para competir, no para figurar.
South Korea and the Czech Republic are about to meet for the first time in World Cup history, and the stage is set at Guadalajara Stadium on the opening day of Group A play. For South Korea, this is business as usual—they're making their eleventh consecutive World Cup appearance, a streak that speaks to the consistency of their program. For the Czechs, this moment carries different weight. They haven't played in a World Cup in two decades, not since 2006, and their return comes after winning a grueling UEFA playoff to earn their ticket to the tournament.
Guadalajara Stadium itself is a relatively new venue, opened in 2010 as the home of the Chivas, one of Mexico's most storied clubs. The ground has hosted major tournaments before—it was one of the principal sites for the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in 2011 and also served as a venue for the Pan American Games that same year. Now it will host this first meeting between two nations with very different trajectories into this competition.
The South Korean squad arrives with genuine ambition. They're banking on the growth they've shown in recent years, and they have the talent to back it up. Lee Kang-in, the PSG winger who was named the best player in Asia last season, is one of their standout figures. So is Kim Min-jae, the Bayern Munich defender who anchors their backline. These aren't fringe players—they're operating at the highest levels of European football, and they're surrounded by other established professionals scattered across top leagues around the world. South Korea proved in Qatar two years ago that they could compete at this level, reaching the Round of 16, and they're hoping to replicate that success here.
The Czech Republic, meanwhile, has arrived with momentum. In the qualifying campaign, they didn't just scrape through—they beat solid opponents. Kosovo, Ireland, and Denmark all fell to them in recent matches, giving the team genuine confidence heading into the tournament. They're ranked 41st in the FIFA standings, and while that's lower than some of their peers, their recent form suggests they're playing above their ranking. Patrick Schick, their striker at Bayer Leverkusen, is a proven goal scorer at club level. Ladislav Krejci, the captain and a stalwart of their defense, plays for Wolves in the Premier League. In midfield, they have Tomas Soucek from West Ham and Pavel Sulc from Lyon—the latter was voted Czech Republic's player of the year just last season.
This opening match will tell both teams something important about their tournament prospects. South Korea enters as the more experienced side with higher expectations, but the Czechs have shown they're not here to make up the numbers. The first game in a group stage often sets the tone for everything that follows, and both teams will be acutely aware that a positive result here could shift the entire trajectory of their campaign.
Notable Quotes
South Korea aspires to replicate their success from Qatar 2022, when they reached the Round of 16— Tournament context
Czech Republic has shown strong recent form, with victories over Kosovo, Ireland, and Denmark in qualifying— Pre-tournament record
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
Why does this match feel significant beyond just being a game?
Because for South Korea, it's about maintaining a streak—they've been here eleven times in a row. There's an expectation built into that. For the Czechs, it's about proving they belong after two decades away. That's a very different kind of pressure.
South Korea has better-known players, doesn't it?
On paper, yes. Lee Kang-in at PSG, Kim Min-jae at Bayern—those are elite addresses. But the Czech Republic isn't bringing a second-tier squad. Schick scores goals in the Bundesliga. Soucek is a Premier League regular. They're not unknowns.
So this isn't a mismatch?
Not at all. South Korea is favored, sure, but the Czechs have beaten good teams recently. They didn't stumble into this tournament. They won a playoff to get here.
What does a win mean for each team?
For South Korea, it's validation that they're still on the trajectory they want—they made the Round of 16 in Qatar, and they want to do it again. For the Czechs, a win would announce that their return isn't a one-off. It would change how people view their chances in the group.
Is there a historical angle here?
This is their first World Cup meeting ever. So whatever happens today becomes the first chapter of their rivalry at this level. That matters more than it might seem.