Mexico secured their place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 knockout stage with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over South Korea in front of an ecstatic crowd at Guadalajara Stadium on Thursday.
The co-hosts became the first nation to advance to the last 32 after Luis Romo capitalised on a costly goalkeeping error early in the second half to score the decisive goal.
With two wins from two matches, Javier Aguirre’s side have guaranteed top spot in Group A and will remain on home soil for their knockout clash in Mexico City against one of the tournament’s third-placed teams.
South Korea remain second in the group with three points, while Czechia and South Africa are still in contention after collecting one point each.
“It was a very close game; we didn’t give up a single centimetre and fought for every ball as if it were our last,” Aguirre told TV Azteca after the match.
“It was a game where whoever made a mistake would lose, and it was them. The performance may be forgettable, but the result certainly is not.
“We’ll see how the final group game unfolds and wait for our next opponent. I’m happy because it means we’re staying in our beloved Mexico.”
Both sides entered the encounter knowing victory would secure a place in the knockout rounds.
South Korea threatened first when captain Son Heung-min lifted the ball over goalkeeper Raul Rangel after 15 minutes, only for Edson Alvarez to acrobatically clear off the line.
Although the assistant referee later raised the flag for offside, replays suggested the decision was extremely tight.
Mexico responded through Julian Quinones, whose header forced South Korean goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu into a fine save.
Despite dominating possession for much of the opening half, the Koreans struggled to create clear-cut chances, while Mexico’s supporters voiced their frustration with boos at the interval.
The hosts emerged with greater urgency after the restart and broke the deadlock five minutes into the second half.
Kim rushed out to claim a high ball but collided with a teammate and spilled possession directly into Romo’s path.
The midfielder calmly tapped into an empty net to spark wild celebrations among the home fans.
South Korea coach Hong Myung-bo attempted to change the momentum by replacing Son before the hour mark and introducing Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Hwang Hee-chan.
However, the visitors struggled to find a breakthrough and only mounted sustained pressure late in the game. Mexico goalkeeper Rangel preserved the lead with a crucial double save in the closing stages.
Mexico will conclude their group campaign against Czechia, while South Korea face South Africa in matches that will determine the final standings. Earlier on Thursday, South Africa and Czechia played out a 1-1 draw.
