Korea can face Mexico with no fear

Korea heads into the lion’s den to take on Mexico in Guadalajara late Friday morning Seoul time. Ever since the draw was made for the 2026 World Cup in December, everyone knew that this would be the toughest game. However, it is not as daunting as it could have been, as the Taegeuk Warriors have three points in the bank after a 2-1 win over the Czech Republic last week.

With its final game against South Africa to come next week, Korea is in a good position. Had the opener ended in a loss — and that was a possibility before Hwang In-beom and Oh Hyeong-gyu scored to negate a Czech lead — then the team would have desperately needed a result against Mexico and been under real pressure. Now, a draw would be fine, and even a defeat, as long as the performance was OK, would not be the end of the world — or the World Cup.

A win, however, would be spectacular and a real statement against a Mexican team ranked 13th in the world, eight above Hong Myung-bo’s men. It would help Korea become the first team to secure a place in the Round of 32 in the new expanded format. There’s more.

In i