South Korea vs. Mexico Ends 0-0 in First Half… Tense Battle for Group Lead

The South Korean national football team, led by head coach Hong Myung-bo, finished the first half of their 2026 North and Central America World Cup Group A second-round match against Mexico with a 0-0 score. In the match held at the Akron Stadium in Zapopan, Mexico, on June 19 (local time), South Korea maintained the same tactics as the previous match against the Czech Republic, with the exception of Kim Moon-hwan starting in the lineup.

Coach Hong deployed Son Heung-min as the central figure, with Lee Jae-sung and Lee Kang-in on the wings, while Hwang In-beom and Paik Seung-ho were tasked with controlling the midfield. The defensive line consisted of Lee Ki-hyuk, Kim Min-jae, and Lee Han-beom, with Kim Seung-gyu guarding the goal. In response, Mexico, led by head coach Javier Aguirre, fielded Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez in their attack.

Both teams engaged in an intense battle early in the first half. In the 16th minute, a shot by Son Heung-min was blocked by Mexican defender Edson Álvarez, and an offside call was made during the play. In the 20th minute, Mexico's Julián Quiñones attempted a header, but it was saved by goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu.

South Korea continued to look for opportunities, with Seol Young-woo recording the team's first shot in the 41st minute, but the first half ended without a goal. However, a yellow card received by Lee Kang-in in the 4th minute remains a variable for the remainder of the match. South Korea, currently ranked 21st in the FIFA world rankings, is facing 13th-ranked Mexico, and the winner of this match will secure the top spot in the group regardless of the results of the third round.

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.