Mexico 1-0 Korea Republic: Romo sends co-hosts into Round of 32

Mexico became the first team to secure a place in the Round of 32 at the FIFA World Cup 2026™ after a 1-0 victory over Korea Republic in Guadalajara. Luis Romo's second-half strike was enough to seal top spot in Group A for the co-hosts, who will now face a third-placed team from Groups C, E, F, H or I in Mexico City on 30 June.

Match Overview

The atmosphere at a fervent Guadalajara Stadium was electric, with a flyover preceding the contest. However, the game itself took time to ignite, with chances at a premium in the opening period. Both sides struggled to create clear-cut opportunities as the first half ended goalless.

Second-Half Breakthrough

Mexico signaled their intent early in the second half when Jesús Gallardo sent a low shot into the side-netting from a promising position. Just four minutes after the restart, the co-hosts broke the deadlock. A mix-up between Korea Republic goalkeeper Kim Seunggyu and defender Lee Gihyuk left the goal unguarded, and Romo was on hand to prod the ball into the net from close range.

Key Saves and Late Drama

Kim Seunggyu partially atoned for his error with a sensational close-range stop to deny Raúl Jiménez in the 75th minute, keeping Korea Republic in the match. However, Mexico goalkeeper Raúl Rangel produced a stunning double save in the 87th minute, first denying Cho Guesung and then Yang Hyunjun, to preserve the lead and secure the victory.

Historic Achievement

With this win, Mexico have now won three consecutive World Cup matches for the first time in their history. Javier Aguirre's side will look to continue their momentum in the knockout stage, where they will face a yet-to-be-determined opponent on home soil.