South Korea vs Czechia – Match preview and team news | OneFootball

South Korea and Czechia kicks off their FIFA World Cup journey against each other on Friday at the Guadalajara as they look to start their respective campaigns on a positive note.

South Korea vs Czechia – Match preview and team news

South Korea team news

South Korea faces serious defensive trouble right before their big opening match. Key center-back Kim Tae-hyeon severely hurt his ankle during a closed training session. He will miss the entire group stage, and the team chose not to bring in a late replacement.

This blow comes after original defender Cho Yu-min left the squad with a bad foot injury, forcing uncapped Jo Wi-je to take his spot. In the midfield, young playmaker Bae Jun-ho is still recovering from an ankle issue. He will miss this first game but hopes to return next week.

Despite these huge setbacks, the Tigers of Asia still have plenty of star power. Captain Son Heung-min is fully fit to lead the frontline alongside winger Hwang Hee-chan.

Meanwhile, Bayern Munich star Kim Min-jae will have to carry extra weight to anchor the shaken defense.

Czechia team news

Czechia enters their first World Cup tournament since 2006 with a very healthy and settled roster. The team received a massive boost as attacking midfielder Adam Hložek recovered from long-term calf and foot problems just in time to secure his spot.

Manager Miroslav Koubek has a nearly full squad to choose from, allowing him to play his favorite physical style. The team will rely heavily on their strong English Premier League and Bundesliga stars to control the game.

West Ham midfielder Tomáš Souček is completely healthy to command the center of the pitch and protect the backline.

Up front, dangerous Leverkusen striker Patrik Schick is in top form and ready to lead the attack. Czechia looks strong, stable, and ready to use their height and power to fight for a crucial opening win.

Form

South Korea

South Korea bounced back after a shaky start to their 2026 campaign. The team suffered consecutive losses in early friendlies, falling heavy to Ivory Coast and narrowly to Austria. However, the Tigers of Asia found their groove just in time for the tournament. They dominated Trinidad and Tobago in a 5-0 blowout and secured a 1-0 win over El Salvador. They carry a two-game winning streak into the World Cup.

Czechia

Czechia enters the tournament in excellent form and full of confidence. They showed immense resilience in March, winning consecutive high-pressure penalty shootouts against Ireland and Denmark to qualify for the World Cup. Since booking their spot, they have kept the momentum alive with two straight friendly wins. They defeated Kosovo 2-1 and handled Guatemala 3-1, extending their current unbeaten streak to four matches.

Predicted lineups

South Korea: Kim Seung-gyu; Lee Gi-hyuk, Kim Min-jae, Lee Han-beom; Seol Young-woo, Hwang In-beom, Paik Seung-ho, Lee Tae-seok; Hwang Hee-chan, Lee Jae-sung; Son Heung-min

Czechia: Kovar; Chaloupek, Hranac, Krejci; Coufal, Cerv, Soucek, Jurasek; Provod, Sulc; Schick

How to watch South Korea vs Czechia?

In the UK, you can watch the South Korea vs. Czechia World Cup match live on ITV1.

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