World Cup 2026 day two: Mexico and South Korea kick off campaigns with wins, two games to come

FootballSports
12 Jun 2026 • 2:36 PM MYT
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The World Cup is underway with both Mexico and South Korea winning their opening games, as the US and Canada prepare to play later.

Co-hosts Mexico comfortably saw off South Africa, in a contest which saw three players sent off.

Julian Quinones scored the first goal of the tournament with a fantastic right-footed strike, as Raul Jimenez joined him on the scoresheet with a trademark header.

South Korea came from behind against the Czech Republic, after Wolves' Ladislav Krejci opened the scoring for the European side.

An equaliser from Hwang In-beom and the winner from substitute Oh Hyeon-Gyu helped South Korea to their first victory of the tournament.

To come later today, Canada kicks off their campaign against Bosnia and Herzegovina at 8pm.

In Group D, America go up against Paraguay at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles from 2am.

Mexico and South Korea get off to winning ways

Image from: World Cup 2026 day two: Mexico and South Korea kick off campaigns with wins, two games to come
Mexico goal | Source: GETTY

The opening games of group A saw Mexico and South Korea get off to winning ways.

A 2-0 win for Mexico against South Africa saw the co-host go top of the group on goal difference.

South Korea came from behind to beat the Czech Republic 2-1, leaving them in second place.

Hong Myung-bo, South Korea's coach, said after the game: "The win itself makes me happy, but what's even more positive is that our boys won by not giving up."

Czech manager Miroslav Koubek rued "some mistakes", saying: "We played very well, it could have been a draw, and we could have won as well."

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