Mexico secured their place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 knockout rounds after a hard fought 1-0 victory over South Korea in front of an electrifying home crowd at Guadalajara Stadium on Thursday. The win made the tournament co-hosts the first team to qualify for the next stage and guaranteed them top spot in Group A with one match still to play.
The first half saw both sides battle for control, with South Korea enjoying long spells of possession. Team captain Son Heung-min nearly gave his side an early advantage when he lifted the ball over Mexican goalkeeper Raul Rangel, but defender Edson Alvarez produced a spectacular bicycle kick clearance on the goal line to keep the match level.
Mexico responded with several attacking moves of their own. Julian Quinones, who scored the tournament’s opening goal, tested South Korean goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu with a powerful header. Despite the chances, neither team managed to break the deadlock before halftime.
The decisive moment arrived five minutes into the second half. South Korean goalkeeper Kim misjudged a high ball and collided with his own defender, allowing Luis Romo to capitalize on the mistake. Romo calmly slotted the loose ball into an empty net, sending Mexican supporters into celebration.
South Korea pushed forward in search of an equalizer and introduced fresh attacking options, but they struggled to create clear opportunities. In the closing moments, goalkeeper Raul Rangel emerged as Mexico’s hero by producing two outstanding saves to preserve the lead and secure all three points.
The victory means Mexico will remain in Mexico City for their Round of 32 fixture against one of the tournament’s best third placed teams. Meanwhile, South Korea remains second in Group A with three points and still has a strong chance of qualifying. The group remains competitive, with both the Czech Republic and South Africa still mathematically in contention after their 1-1 draw earlier in the day.
Mexico will now face the Czech Republic in their final group match, while South Korea takes on South Africa.
