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  • Mexico vs South Korea, FIFA World Cup 2026 highlights: Romo strike, Rangel heroics help co-hosts Mexico edge past South Korea 1-0

Co-hosts Mexico maintained their perfect start to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, grinding out a gritty 1-0 victory over South Korea at a packed Estadio Guadalajara on Friday. Following their opening-day win, Javier Aguirre’s men made it two wins from two games with back-to-back clean sheets, putting one foot firmly in the knockout stages.

Midfielder Luis Romo turned out to be the hero for El Tri, breaking the deadlock in the 55th minute with a clinical finish. The goal continued a unique historical trend, marking the third time in Mexico's last four opening World Cup goals that they found the net against Asian opposition.

South Korea threw everything forward in the closing stages, making attacking substitutions and testing the Mexican backline. Goalkeeper Raúl Rangel produced an unbelievable double save in the 87th minute to deny Cho Gue-sung from close range, before Lee Han-Beom headed wide in stoppage time.

With six points in the bag and a rock-solid defense that is yet to concede a goal, Mexico have started their home campaign exactly how the passionate home fans would have dreamed and they secure a place in the Round of 32 with the win.

And that wraps up our live coverage for today. Thank you for tuning in to our live blog. Stay tuned to TOI Sports for all the post-match analysis, player ratings, and latest updates from the 2026 World Cup.

Six points, three goals scored, and absolutely zero conceded- Javier Aguirre’s men have executed their tournament blueprint to perfection.

Starting a home World Cup comes with an immense, almost suffocating weight of expectation, but Mexico have handled the pressure brilliantly. Back-to-back clean sheets against disciplined international opposition show a defensive resilience that will strike fear into the rest of the field.

90+6- The final whistle blows! Mexico have held on to win the match 1-0.

There is absolute joy and celebration inside the Estadio Guadalajara as the home fans erupt. Thanks to Luis Romo's second-half goal and some incredible late saves by goalkeeper Raúl Rangel, the tournament co-hosts have secured a massive victory on home soil.

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90+2'- An absolute heart-in-mouth moment for the home crowd! South Korea launch a late attack as Paris Saint-Germain star Lee Kang-in whips a beautiful, curving cross into the penalty area.

The delivery is absolutely inch-perfect, drifting over the jumping defenders and finding center-back Lee Han-beom entirely unmarked at the back post. However, the defender is caught slightly off-balance as he leaps, and his resulting header flies harmlessly wide of the target.

90'- Mexico captain Edson Álvarez shows his immense experience, shields the ball intelligently from a defender, and draws a crucial, clever foul.

With the free-kick secured deep in South Korea's territory, Mexico immediately head to the left corner flag.

87'- How on earth did South Korea not score here?!

A beautiful cross flies into the box from the left wing, and it looks like a guaranteed goal as Cho Gue-sung rises to head it home. But his header goes too close to the Mexican goalkeeper, Raúl Rangel. Rangel does brilliantly to stay on his feet and block the ball with his boot.

As players from both teams fall to the ground in a wild scramble, Cho tries again, kicking out his leg from the turf to redirect the loose ball toward the net. Amazingly, even while lying down, Rangel stays completely awake to the danger and makes a spectacular second save to keep Mexico ahead!

83'- Mexico try to exploit the fresh legs of Santiago Giménez by launching a long ball over the top for him to chase. However, Bayern Munich defender Kim Min-jae reads the flight of the ball perfectly, using his positioning to cut out the danger.

Despite winning the ball back, South Korea are immediately put under immense pressure. El Tri are pressing intelligently high up the pitch, forcing Kim Min-Jae to recycle possession under duress. Hong Myung-bo's side look completely out of ideas, struggling heavily to find a creative way to pass through Mexico's disciplined midfield lines.

81'- Mexico are making their final tactical moves of the match to protect their slim lead. Up front, veteran striker Raúl Jiménez heads to the bench, giving Feyenoord star Santiago Giménez a taste of the action and some fresh legs to run the channels.

At the same time, winger Roberto Alvarado makes way for defender Israel Reyes.

74'- The recent break has completely worked in Mexico's favor, allowing the co-hosts to break out of their defensive shell and put together a great couple of minutes in the attacking third.

El Tri are heavily targeting South Korea's newly reshaped right side. Jesús Gallardo and Julián Quinones are combining beautifully down the left wing, spearheading some dangerous overlapping runs and winning crucial set-pieces to pin South Korea back and take the pressure off their own defense.

70'- With twenty minutes left on the clock, both managers are using the final drinks break to make key substitutions.

Mexico are looking to refresh their energetic midfield. Goalscorer Luis Romo and Érick Gutiérrez leave the pitch, replaced by the creative Orbelín Pineda and the youthful energy of MLS starlet Obed Vargas.

South Korea are throwing everything into attack by changing both of their wingbacks. They bring on two attack-minded wingers, Eom Ji-sung and Yang Hyun-jun, in a desperate bid to find a breakthrough before time runs out.

68'- Both teams are managing to find space in the attacking third, but with completely different approaches. Mexico's moments on the ball are sporadic and rare as they prioritize defending their slim lead, while South Korea are working with much more control.

However, everything is stalling for South Korea right on the edge of the Mexican penalty area. The intricate combinations, quick flicks, and passing sequences that worked so beautifully to open up Czechia in their previous match are completely failing to click against Mexico's stubborn, crowded defensive wall.

62'- An offside call and some physical contact stop the action for a moment, giving Mexico a much-needed chance to catch their breath and reset.

Out of possession, Mexico have changed their system to a very defensive 5-4-1 formation. By packing five defenders across the back line and four in midfield, they are creating a solid wall. This tactical shift is designed to completely close up shop, denying South Korea's fast attackers any space to run into.

58'- Talismanic captain Son Heung-min and midfielder Lee Jae-sung are making way. On come the reinforcement power of Wolverhampton's Hwang Hee-chan and the physicality of Oh Hyeon-gyu. Taking off your star forward while chasing a goal is a massive roll of the dice—clearly looking for a completely different profile of directness upfront.

Meanwhile, frustration is creeping into the South Korean ranks. Paik Seung-ho goes straight into the referee's book, picking up a thoroughly deserved yellow card for a cynical, late tackle as Mexico tried to launch a transition.

54'- Remarkably, three of the last four times Mexico have opened the scoring in a World Cup fixture, it has come against Asian opposition. Alongside today's opener in Guadalajara, this exact trend occurred against Saudi Arabia during the 2022 group stage in Qatar, and in the 2018 edition in Russia against none other than South Korea themselves.

El Tri clearly know how to crack the code early when facing AFC teams on the world stage, and history is repeating itself right now to the delight of the home support.

50'- It is absolute calamity at the back for South Korea. A total breakdown in communication between goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu and his central defensive line turned a routine defensive situation into a complete nightmare.

Luis Romo read the hesitation perfectly, pouncing on the loose, uncontained ball like a flashing predator inside the penalty box. He didn't need a second invitation, guiding it home into the unguarded net to punish the error. Against the run of play, the tournament co-hosts hit the front!

45+4'- The referee blows the whistle to signal the end of a highly tactical opening 45 minutes, sending both heavyweights into the tunnel locked at 0-0.

Following the hydration break where South Korea dictated the tempo, the game comfortably settled into a mutual holding pattern. With both nations having already secured crucial three-point victories in their tournament openers, a draw here serves their primary ambitions perfectly.

Neither Javier Aguirre nor Hong Myung-bo seems willing to overcommit or risk exposure on the counter-attack. The cautious approach essentially guarantees safe passage into the knockout phase for both squads, setting up a final group-stage matchday shootout down the line to officially decide who advances as Group A winners.

44'- Ever since the players gathered at the touchline for a brief hydration break, South Korea have looked completely rejuvenated, seizing absolute control of the tempo.

Hong Myung-Bo's side are pinning the tournament co-hosts deep into their own territory, suffocating any potential counter-attacks before they can even begin. Lee Kang-in and Hwang In-Beom are dictating play with crisp, sharp recycling of possession, probing the edges of the box.

Javier Aguirre's men are visibly flagging under the intense pressure and will be desperately checking the clock, praying for the half-time whistle to blow so they can regroup

40'- A noticeable wave of frustration is rippling through the stands at the Estadio Guadalajara as the home crowd begins to get restless with how uneventful this first half has become.

To be completely fair, you can't blame them. After an explosive opening ten minutes, the match has devolved into a tactical game of chess. Mexico have pulled back their high press, allowing South Korea to comfortably pass the ball sideways across the pitch without any real penetration or goalmouth action.

36'- For the first time in this intense opening half, Mexico have intentionally dropped their furious high press and allowed South Korea a sustained spell of possession deep in the final third.

The Taegeuk warriors are patiently circulating the ball from flank to flank, dragging the Mexican defensive block out of position. they check back, reset through midfield, and switch the play time and again, meticulously searching for that one defense-splitting vertical pass. Mexico look comfortable in their shape, but Korea are finally finding their rhythm on the ball.

32'- Another offside flag spares mexico, but the warning signs are blinking bright red for el tri's high line.

South korean captain son heung-min showcased his trademark world-class movement, flashing dazzling footwork inside the box to completely bamboozle his defender. From an incredibly tight angle, the tottenham forward fired a sharp, stinging drive toward the near corner.

Raul rangel reacted instantly, dropping fast to block the shot at his near post and maintain his clean sheet.

23'- The momentum has completely swung in favor of the co-hosts. Driven by a deafening home crowd, Mexico are playing with a much greater sense of urgency now, dominating possession and actively forcing the issue higher up the pitch.

Despite their attacking intent, El Tri are hitting a stubborn roadblock. Javier Aguirre’s men are struggling to execute clean, incisive passing patterns in the final third, heavily restricted by an incredibly disciplined and deeply committed South Korean defense. Hong Myung-bo has his team beautifully drilled in an organized low block, marshaled by the indomitable Kim Min-jae.

20'- Now it's Mexico's turn to fashion another high-quality attempt on goal as they amplify the offensive pressure.

Roberto Alvarado has been an absolute livewire on the right flank; he delivers a wonderful, pinpoint in-swinging cross deep into the dangerous area. Striker Julián Quiñones escapes his marker to head it with power, but it goes straight at Kim Seung-gyu, who gathers it cleanly.

16'- Son Heung-min thought he had perfectly sprung the Mexican offside trap to latch onto a brilliant, defense-splitting vertical ball. Spying Raúl Rangel racing off his line, the Tottenham talisman elegantly lofted a delicate half-volley that looked destined to curl gracefully into the far corner.

Just as the Korean section of the crowd began to roar, Edson Álvarez pulled off one of the great, instinctual goalline defensive recoveries in World Cup history. The West Ham star hurtled back toward his own net, launched his body through the air, and acrobatically volleyed the ball off the goal line.

A collective gasp swept through the stadium, but it was all quickly rendered academic as the assistant referee belatedly raised the offside flag.

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Source: The Times of India