Mexico 1-0 South Korea: Goalkeeper error sees co-hosts book place in World Cup knockouts | OneFootball

Mexico claimed a 1-0 win against South Korea to progress to the knockout stages of the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a game to spare, despite a lethargic first half in Guadalajara.

Luis Romo pounced on a poor mistake from Kim Seung-gyu five minutes after the break with South Korea, despite knowing that victory would have confirmed their progression from the group with a game to spare, not registering a shot on target until the 87th minute.

Having booked their own ticket to the knockout stages with three points in front of their home fans, Mexico are now almost guaranteed to top Group A, which would see them play their round-of-32 clash at the Estadio Azteca.

As it happened

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has been nothing short of entertaining thus far – but the first half of Mexico’s meeting with South Korea in Guadalajara certainly bucked that trend, and threatened to send those that had stayed awake into the early hours in the United Kingdom into a deep sleep.

The first real chance of note came with 15 minutes played as an acrobatic clearance saw Edson Alvarez hoof Son Heung-min’s lifted shot away from goal, although the offside flag was later raised to confirm that the Fenerbahçe defender’s heroics weren’t really needed.

That offside flag was the star of the first half. It was raised again shortly after the half-hour mark when Son’s tight-angled shot from inside the box was saved at the near post – and in total, it was raised six times before the break, setting a new record at this summer’s tournament.

Mexico, much to the relief of the majority inside the Estadio Guadalajara, enjoyed a stronger start to the second half.

Jesus Gallardo struck the side netting after being played through by Brian Gutierrez, extending his wait for his first international goal, but just seconds later Mexico took the lead in bizarre circumstances.

Julián Quiñones’ cross was nodded into the air inside the penalty box by Raúl Jiménez, and while Kim Seung-gyu looked to have claimed it comfortably, the goalkeeper spilled the ball as he fell onto Lee Ki-hyuk, allowing Luis Romo to pick up the pieces and slot home into an open goal just five minutes into the half.

South Korea left it late in their search for an equaliser as an in-swinging ball for Cho Gue-sung sallowed the forward to get a header goalwards which was blocked by Raúl Rangel, and the substitute could only direct his follow-up attempt at the goalkeeper who did remarkably well to preserve Mexico’s lead.

Lee Han-beom should have done better with his header in the dying stages, but South Korea were ultimately left empty-handed in Guadalajara as three points confirm Mexico’s progression to the knockout stages of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.