Czechia suffered a 2-1 defeat to South Korea in their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Mexico on Thursday, despite taking the lead midway through the second half. Ladislav Krejčí appeared to have put the Czechs on course for a positive start when he headed home in the 59th minute at Estadio Guadalajara in Zapopan. Vladimir Coufal’s long throw found the unmarked defender inside the six-yard box, and Krejčí made no mistake with Czechia’s first shot on target of the match.