With PAOK full-back Jorge Sanchez starting in the starting lineup and AEK and this year’s Super League MVP Orbelin Pineda entering the field in the 71st minute, Mexico defeated South Korea 1-0 in the second round of the 2026 World Cup, making it “2 for 2” and securing first place in Group 1 and qualification to the “32”.

The first half at Guadalajara Stadium was rather… disheartening in terms of spectacle, with both teams placing more importance on stopping the opponents’ “weapons” than on how to rationally attack. With the exception of a header by Quinones in the 20th minute that was blocked by Kim Seung-gyu, no other special moments were recorded.

In the second half, Mexico entered the field better and finally found the net in the 50th minute. In a stoppage time in the South Korean area, Kim Seung-gyu made a big mistake by losing the ball from his hands and Romo made it 1-0 with a place kick.

Vargas almost “ended” the match once and for all in the 85th minute, but Kim made a great save on his attempted shot, while in the 87th minute, Rangel made a huge save on Sung’s close-range header, keeping the score “zero” in his goal and the Mexicans’ big victory until the finale.

Referee : Gustavo Tejera (Uruguay)
Yellow Cards : – 4′ Kang-In, 58′ Paik
Red Cards : –

The lineups of the two teams:
MEXICO (Jorge Aguirre) : Rangel, Sanchez, Alvarez, Vazquez, Gallardo, Lira, Romo (71′ Vargas), Gutierrez (71′ L.T. Pineda), Alvarado (80′ Reyes), Quinones (80′ Huerta Valera), Jimenez.
SOUTH KOREA (Hong Myung-Bo) : Seung-Gyu, Han-Beom, Min-Jae, Ki-Hyuk, Seol (71′ Hyung-Jun), Hwang, Paik (77′ Gwe-Sung), Moon-Hwan (71′ Yi-Sung), Kang-In, Jae, Sung (57′ Hwang Lee-Chan), Son (58′ Heung-Gyu).