South Korea and the Czech Republic debut this Thursday, starting at 11pm (Brasília time), at the Akron Stadium, in Jalisco, Mexico, in the first round of Group A of the 2026 World Cup. The confrontation pits Asian consistency against the European return after two decades.
South Korea arrives as one of the most regular teams on the continent, with their 11th consecutive participation in the tournament. The Czech Republic, in turn, broke a 20-year fast and is looking to surprise in the opening stages.
At the center of South Korean attention is Seol Youngwoo, Red Star Belgrade’s versatile full-back who has gained permanent space in the national team. At 27 years old, the Ulsan-born player represents the balance between solid defense and offensive contribution that coach Hong Myungbo wants to exploit against the Czechs’ physical style.
Seol Youngwoo is experiencing the best phase of his career. Transferred to Serbian football in 2024, he established himself as a key player for Red Star, playing more than 30 games in the last SuperLiga season, with two goals and five assists. His height of 1.83m, combined with speed and ability to play on both sides, makes him one of the most complete full-backs on the Asian team.
Seol Youngwoo’s journey to the World Cup
A graduate of Ulsan HD’s youth teams, Seol began his career as a winger, but moved to the side while still at university. Adaptation was quick. As a professional, he became an absolute starter, helping the club win K League and AFC Champions League titles. Going to Europe consolidated its growth.
At Red Star Belgrade, Seol adapted to the more physically demanding football. His numbers show efficiency: high rate of successful passes (above 90% in many games), accurate tackles and constant participation in the attack. He has already played more than 30 games for the main team, with important contributions in the qualifiers.
Hong Myungbo built the team with an emphasis on a populated midfield and exploits on the flanks. Seol Youngwoo must be one of the main people responsible for creating imbalances. His speed allows for deep advances, while Son Heung-min’s presence attracts marking and opens up spaces for crosses or infiltrations.
South Korea’s probable lineup
Jo Hyeonwoo; Lee Hanbeom, Kim Minjae and Lee Gihyuk; Seol Youngwoo, Hwang Inbeom, Lee Jaesung and Lee Taeseok; Lee Kangin, Hwang Heechan (Lee Donggyeong) and Son Heungmin.
The full-back must play on the right side or as a winger in offensive moments, taking advantage of the tendency to have just one fixed center forward. In the preparatory friendlies, Korea beat Trinidad and Tobago 5-0 and beat El Salvador 1-0, showing progress in the offensive sector.
Czech Republic bets on physical strength
The Czech Republic returns to the World Cup after 20 years. Qualified via repechage, with victories over Ireland and Denmark on penalties, the team practices a strong aerial game and quick transitions. Coach Miroslav Kouvek should field a compact team, exploring the right side with Hoffenheim’s Vladimir Coufal.
Probable lineup for the Czech Republic
Matej Kovár; Chaloupek, Robin Hranác and Ladislav Krejcí; Vladimír Coufal, Vladimír Darida, Tomáš Soucek, Lukáš Provod, Pavel Šulc and Jaroslav Zelený; Patrick Schick.
Patrik Schick, from Bayer Leverkusen, is the main reference in attack. The duel between Seol Youngwoo’s speed on the wings and the Czech physical imposition in the middle and high up should set the pace of the match.
Arbitration
Referee: Amin Mohamed (Egypt) Assistant 1: Mahmoud Abouelregal (Egypt) Assistant 2: Ahmed Hossam Taha (Egypt) Fourth referee: Juan Calderon (Costa Rica) VAR: Mahmoud Ashour (Egypt) VAR assistant: Joe Dickerson (United States)
Where to watch
The live broadcast is carried out by Cazé TV. ge tracks all bids in real time.
Greater context of Group A
Group A still includes Mexico, the home team, and South Africa. South Korea, eliminated in the round of 16 by Brazil in 2022, seeks to advance to the stage with more consistency. Seol Youngwoo, who was not at the last World Cup, is experiencing a moment of greater maturity and could be one of the names to stand out in 2026.
Its versatility allows for tactical adjustments. Against teams that press high, he drops back to form a line of three; In possession games, he projects as a winger. This flexibility is fundamental for Hong Myungbo, who is betting on offensive full-backs to compensate for the absence of many professional strikers.
Challenges and what to expect from the duel
The Czech Republic arrives motivated after the long hiatus. His aerial style of play can exploit dead balls against the Korean defense. On the other hand, the South Korean speed on the flanks, with Seol Youngwoo and possibly Lee Taeseok, tends to create problems for the Czech marking, which has a history of difficulties against quick transitions.
Seol Youngwoo has already demonstrated in recent games for the national team and club his ability to decide. His precise crosses and ability to make a tackle at the right time make him a key player in controlling the right side of the field and supporting Son Heung-min, who is possibly competing in his last World Cup at the age of 33.
The Akron stadium, in Guadalajara, should receive a good crowd, with divided Mexican fans and South Koreans present in force. The synthetic grass or the light altitude conditions in Mexico can influence the pace, favoring teams with greater physical fitness — an aspect in which Seol stands out after an intense season in Europe.
Recent history and numbers that matter
South Korea maintained an undefeated campaign in the Asian Qualifiers (11 wins, 5 draws). Czechia finished second in their European bracket and shone in the repechage. In the last direct confrontations, the teams faced each other a few times, but the history slightly favors the Asians in neutral games.
Seol Youngwoo, with more than 2,600 minutes in the last European season, arrives with a high game rate. His statistics include high accuracy in long passes and chance creation, numbers that can make a difference in a debut game, where nervousness tends to appear.
Coach Hong Myungbo has internally praised the full-back’s tactical commitment. Training in Guadalajara saw Seol working on passing and crossing patterns, exactly what Korea needs to break through the compact Czech defense.
Impact of good performance
A solid showing from Seol Youngwoo will not only help Korea start Group A with a win, it could elevate their status in the European market. With a market value of around 6 million euros, the player attracts interest from bigger clubs. In the national team, he is already seen as a natural successor to more experienced names on the side.
For South Korean fans, seeing a player trained in the country shining in the World Cup represents extra pride. Seol carries on the tradition of attacking full-backs who made a mark on the national team, like those who helped in the 2002 campaign.
This Thursday’s game paves the way for a balanced group stage. Mexico and South Africa complete the group, promising intense duels in the next rounds. But the initial focus is on how Korea will use its wings — and Seol Youngwoo is at the center of that strategy.
Where to rewatch and final details
Cazé TV broadcasts live. Also follow ge for full real-time, confirmed lineups and updates.
The match marks the beginning of the Korean journey in search of the round of 16 or beyond. With Seol Youngwoo on the rise, the expectation is for a dynamic team capable of imposing its pace from the opening whistle.
