Mexico Edges South Korea 1-0 to Secure Round 32
Photo: REUTERS
Luis Romo emerged as the hero for co-host Mexico, clinching the first available spot in the FIFA World Cup 2026 with a gritty 1-0 victory over South Korea at Guadalajara Stadium.
A ceremonial flyover electrified the fervent crowd before kickoff, though the match itself required time to find its rhythm as both sides struggled to create clear chances during a scoreless opening period.
Mexico shifted the momentum immediately after the break. Jesus Gallardo signaled the co-hosts’ aggressive intent in the 49th minute when he drove a low strike into the side-netting. Just one minute later, the stadium erupted as Luis Romo capitalized on a defensive disaster.
A costly communication breakdown between South Korean goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu and defender Lee Gi-hyuk left the net wide open, allowing Romo to poke the ball home for the decisive goal.
South Korea fought back, and Kim Seung-gyu partially redeemed his earlier error in the 75th minute by producing a sensational close-range stop to deny Raul Jimenez.
However, Mexican goalkeeper Raul Rangel secured the result with a stunning display of reflexes. Rangel executed a scarcely-believable double save against Cho Gue-sung and Yang Hyun-jun to preserve the clean sheet and the win.
With the group’s top spot now guaranteed, Javier Aguirre’s squad moves to Mexico City for their Round of 32 fixture on 30 June. They will face a third-placed team advancing from Group C, E, F, H, or I.
