Mexico became the first team to secure a place in the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after edging South Korea 1-0 in a Group A encounter.
The hosts capitalised on a costly defensive error to claim their second consecutive victory of the tournament, marking a remarkable turnaround after failing to progress beyond the group stage at the 2022 World Cup.
Luis Romo scored the decisive goal in the 50th minute when South Korea goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu collided with defender Lee Gi-hyuk inside the penalty area and spilt the ball. Romo reacted quickly to collect the loose ball and calmly finish into an empty net.
South Korea came close to equalising late in the match, but Mexico goalkeeper Raúl Rangel produced two outstanding saves in the 87th minute. He first denied Cho Gue-sung’s close-range header before stretching to keep out the rebound and preserve Mexico’s lead.
The victory moved Mexico to six points from two Group A matches, leaving them three points clear of South Korea. The Czech Republic and South Africa, who played out a 1-1 draw in Atlanta, remain further behind in the standings.
With the result, Mexico became the first nation to book its place in the Round of 32, introduced for the first time following the expansion of the World Cup from 32 to 48 teams. The top two teams from each group, along with the eight best third-placed sides, advance to the knockout stage.
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