Guadalajara, Jun 19 (V7N) – Co-hosts Mexico became the first team to secure a place in the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after edging South Korea 1-0 in a crucial Group A encounter on Friday.
A second-half strike from Luis Romo proved enough to seal victory for the hosts at a packed stadium in Guadalajara, sending Mexican fans into celebration and guaranteeing their passage to the Round of 32 with one group-stage match still to play.
The two sides battled evenly throughout a goalless first half, with both teams creating opportunities but failing to find the breakthrough.
Mexico finally broke the deadlock in the 50th minute, capitalizing on a costly defensive mistake by South Korea. Goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu rushed out of his area to intercept an attacking cross but collided with one of his defenders before reaching the ball.
The loose ball fell kindly to Luis Romo, who calmly fired a powerful volley into the empty net to hand Mexico a 1-0 lead.
South Korea pushed for an equalizer after falling behind, but Mexico's defense remained organized and resilient, preserving the narrow advantage until the final whistle.
The victory followed Mexico's opening 2-0 win over South Africa and lifted the co-hosts to the top of Group A with six points from two matches.
South Korea remain second with three points, while South Africa and the Czech Republic have one point each after their draw earlier in the tournament.
With one round of group-stage matches remaining, Mexico are mathematically assured of finishing in the top two and advancing to the knockout stage, becoming the first nation at the tournament to secure qualification.
The result sparked celebrations among home supporters and further heightened the excitement surrounding the 2026 World Cup as the co-hosts continued their impressive start to the competition.
END/SMA/AJ
