South Korea and Mexico continue their World Cup campaign on Thursday, 18th June.
Both sides won their opening games and will be keen to maintain winning momentum.
This match could be key to deciding who tops Group A as we head into the knockout rounds.
All eyes will turn to Guadalajara this Thursday as Mexico face South Korea for their second game of the 2026 Soccer World Cup. Both sides won their opening games and are aiming to use that momentum to guide them through the rest of their group stage matches. As things stand in the table, both teams have three points, but Mexico are one ahead on goal difference, making the upcoming game crucial for deciding who tops the Group A table as we head into the knockout stages.
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Mexico had a dramatic start to their World Cup campaign with three red cards awarded throughout the match against South Africa. That included one for Mexico, which means that César Montes is suspended for this game. Despite these skirmishes, Mexico retained 60% possession and managed to score twice, with another goal only denied by the woodwork.
South Korea came from behind in their opening match against Czechia and eventually managed a classic underdog victory with a scoreline of 2-1. They’ll be seeking to replicate this magic against Mexico, but that might be difficult with the backing of the home fans and the disciplined Mexican defense.
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Following a life-threatening head injury while playing for Wolverhampton, there were questions about whether Jimenez would return to football. But fast forward two years and he’s just scored his first goal for his country at a home World Cup. The support from the home fans has been phenomenal, and this could provide Mexico with the lift they need to break through the South Korea defense.
Former Tottenham star Son Heung-min managed five attempts at goal during his side’s opening game, and we think he’ll be looking to continue this pace across the group matches. He holds the record for the most appearances for the South Korea national team and only needs three more goals to become the nation’s top goalscorer. This could be even more pertinent as South Korea cut ties with their media following negative remarks about Son, potentially giving him even more impetus to score.
While we’re backing Mexico to win this tussle, we think that South Korea’s speed and surprise counterattacks could see them get one past the keeper. Their chances may be more limited, but momentum from the win against Czechia, the first time that South Korea have won their opening World Cup game, may add a little spring to their step.
In the last five matches between the two, Mexico have won three times and managed two draws. The last meeting was a 2-2 draw, and this seems to be a good indicator of the sort of pace and intensity we can expect from this match.
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It’s not a classic rivalry, but Mexico and South Korea have a growing competitive history. Mexico made an impressive start in their opening game and will be hoping that the home crowd energy will give them a boost. However, South Korea has some undeniable talent and an ambitious outlook, with a dangerous mix of experience and youth. Lock in your World Cup picks at FanDuel using our links here, for what looks set to be a thrilling match.
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