Mexico became the first nation to secure a place in the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a hard-fought 1-0 victory over South Korea in Guadalajara on Thursday, sparking jubilant celebrations across the host nation.
A second-half goal from Luis Romo proved decisive as Mexico claimed its second consecutive win of the tournament, guaranteeing top spot in Group A with six points from two matches. The result marked a significant turnaround for El Tri, who suffered a disappointing group-stage exit at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The breakthrough came in the 50th minute following a costly defensive mix-up by South Korea. Goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu collided with defender Lee Gi-hyuk while attempting to deal with a ball inside the penalty area, spilling possession into the path of Romo, who calmly slotted into an unguarded net.
The match had largely lacked quality before the goal, with both sides struggling to create clear-cut opportunities. Frustrated fans at Estadio Akron voiced their displeasure by booing both teams as they headed into the halftime break after a goalless first half.
South Korea nearly salvaged a point late in the game, but Mexico goalkeeper Raúl Rangel produced a stunning double save in the 87th minute. He first denied Cho Gue-sung’s close-range header before reacting brilliantly to stop Yang Hyun-jun’s rebound effort with an outstretched arm, preserving Mexico’s lead.
Reflecting on the crucial moment, Rangel said: “It was very quick, it was pure reaction. I couldn’t really tell you what I saw, because I remember the moment of impact with my teammate and me having the ball.”
The victory triggered celebrations across Mexico, with thousands of supporters gathering at Mexico City’s iconic Ángel of Independence monument while motorists in Guadalajara filled the streets, sounding horns, waving flags and chanting in celebration of the national team’s progress.
Mexico head coach Javier Aguirre acknowledged that his side had not produced its best performance but praised the team’s ability to capitalize on its opportunity.
“We’ve been doing very well,” Aguirre said. “It wasn’t a great match, but I think that our opponent didn’t let us do too much. But we still were able to score, on that mistake, in addition to another two or three opportunities.”
The veteran coach added that qualifying for the knockout stage on home soil would boost confidence within the squad.
“It relieves some of the pressure,” Aguirre said. “But not for me, for the players. They are euphoric, they are very happy.”
Mexico’s qualification was confirmed after the team moved three points clear of South Korea and five points ahead of both the Czech Republic and South Africa, who earlier played out a 1-1 draw in Atlanta. Under the tournament’s expanded 48-team format, the top two teams from each group and the eight best third-placed teams advance to the round of 32.
The victory also carried historical significance. Prior to the 2026 World Cup, Mexico had never won a World Cup match on home soil outside Mexico City. Most of its previous home World Cup fixtures during the 1970 and 1986 tournaments were played at the famed Estadio Azteca.
For South Korea, the defeat leaves qualification hopes hanging in the balance. Captain Son Heung-min endured another frustrating outing and was substituted in the 57th minute. The 33-year-old forward, playing in his fourth World Cup, remains on three career World Cup goals as he seeks to become South Korea’s all-time leading scorer at the tournament.
South Korea coach Hong Myung-bo lamented the error that led to Mexico’s winning goal.
“The mistake that we made was unfortunate,” he said.
Despite late pressure and several dangerous attacks, the Asian side was unable to find an equalizer and now faces a must-win encounter against South Africa in Monterrey.
The match attracted a crowd of 45,522 spectators at the 45,664-capacity Estadio Akron, making it one of the best-attended fixtures of the tournament so far. The occasion was not without controversy, however, as some fan zones in Mexico witnessed the return of a homophobic chant that has previously resulted in FIFA sanctions against the country.
Meanwhile, peaceful demonstrations organized by families of Mexico’s more than 130,000 missing persons took place in Guadalajara, adding a social dimension to a day otherwise dominated by football celebrations.
Mexico will conclude its Group A campaign against the Czech Republic in Mexico City on Wednesday, while South Korea faces South Africa in a crucial clash that could determine its World Cup future.
AP
