Mexico, Korea Republic meet with group lead at stake

With three points already secured, Mexico heads to Guadalajara looking to stay perfect.

GUADALAJARA, Mexico – The FIFA World Cup 2026 continues with co-hosts Mexico facing Korea Republic in Group A on Thursday, 8 PM ET (7 PM local), at Guadalajara Stadium in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico.

Mexico will retake the field after playing in the tournament’s curtain raiser one week ago, winning 2-nil against South Africa in Mexico City. Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez each scored their first goal in a FIFA World Cup to guide El Tricolor to victory.

Korea Republic will remain in Guadalajara, its base camp, where it collected a 2-1 win against Czechia at Guadalajara Stadium. Hwang In-Beom and Oh Hyeon-Gyu scored during the second half in the nation’s comeback victory.

Mexico and Korea Republic arrive as the first and second placed teams in Group A. Each with three points, a victory would award the winning team sole proprietorship of the group lead heading into the final matchday – and potentially seal a place in the Round of 32.

Mexico vs Republic of Korea- Facts

• Mexico and Korea Republic are meeting at the FIFA World Cup for the third time – Mexico won both previous group stage encounters (3-1 in 1998, 2-1 in 2018). This is the first time Korea Republic will face a host country at the World Cup.

• Mexico have won only one of their three previous matches played at the Guadalajara Stadium, a 2- 0 victory against the USA in an October 2024 friendly. The other two matches ended in a defeat (1-2 in September 2010) and a draw (1-1 in October 2025), both against Ecuador.

• Across their FIFA World Cup history, Mexico have won all five of their tournament matches against Asian opposition, netting 2+ goals in each of their last four victories.

• Mexico have won their last two FIFA World Cup games (MD3 in 2022, MD1 in 2026), never before winning three matches in a row in the competition.

• Mexico found a teammate with 89.8% of their passes in victory over South Africa last time out (467/520); their highest completion rate in a FIFA World Cup match on record (since 1966).

• Raúl Jiménez has scored in each of Mexico’s last two matches against Korea Republic, finding the net in friendlies in November 2020 and September 2025. In this game, Jiménez could become thefirst Mexican player to score in his first two FIFA World Cup starts (teammate Julián Quiñones could also do so).