Hwang In-beom Leads South Korea Comeback Win Over Czech Republic at 2026 World Cup

Son Heung-min didn't score. He probably should have. And for 59 minutes, that narrative hung over Estadio Akron like the Guadalajara heat — heavy, pressing, unrelenting.

Then his team did what South Korean sides do. They found someone else.

After a lackluster first half in which both teams were jeered leaving the field, Czech Republic took the lead when Vladimir Coufal hurled a long throw into the area and Ladislav Krejcí steamed in at the near post Czech Republic's first effort on target all game.

Down 1-0. Son still scoreless. The crowd gone quiet.

Eight minutes later, Hwang In-beom answered. He faked a shot to clear two Czech defenders, then cut inside from Kang-In Lee's pass and clipped a deft finish inside the post. The Guadalajara stands woke up. Hwang became only the third South Korean player ever to score and assist in a single World Cup match.

Czech Republic nearly stole it back — Tomás Soucek headed in what looked like a go-ahead goal in the 77th, only to be flagged offside. Three minutes later, substitute Oh Hyeon-gyu buried Hwang's cross from the right to seal it. In stoppage time, goalkeeper Seung-gyu Kim denied Michal Sadilek to secure the points.

South Korea are now level with Mexico at the top of Group A. Their June 18 meeting in Guadalajara just became the group stage's most anticipated fixture.

Son will score. But tonight belonged to Hwang In-beom — and a team that refused to fold.