Group A action continues as Son Heung-Min enters his fourth World Cup, with South Korea facing Czechia in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Match Preview
South Korea, captained by LAFC's Son Heung-Min, features Wolves' Hwang Hee-Chan and Bayern Munich defender Kim Min-Jae. They are favorites against Czechia, who count West Ham midfielder Tomáš Souček among their most experienced players.
Managed since 2024 by Hong Myung-Bo, South Korea arrives at the World Cup ranked 25th in FIFA rankings, having secured successive wins in warm-up friendlies against Trinidad & Tobago and El Salvador. However, a 4-0 defeat to Ivory Coast and a narrow loss to Austria in March may cause concern.
Czechia, ranked 40th, overcame Denmark on penalties in March's playoff to reach their first World Cup since 2006 and only their second ever. They warmed up with wins against Kosovo and Guatemala. A key danger-man is Bayer Leverkusen's Patrick Schick, who scored five goals in eight World Cup qualifiers.
The other Group A sides are co-hosts Mexico and South Africa, who play the curtain-raiser on Thursday evening.
Where to Watch South Korea vs Czechia for FREE
TV channel: In the UK, the game is televised live on ITV1, with coverage starting at 2:30am BST ahead of a 3am kickoff.
Live stream: UK viewers can catch the contest live online via the ITVX app or the channel's website.
Free highlights: World Cup highlights are available on FIFA's official YouTube channel, as well as the ITVX app and their websites.
