Mexico became the first nation to advance to the knockout phase of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, recording a 1-0 victory over South Korea at Estadio Guadalajara on Thursday.
The decisive moment came shortly after the interval when Luis Romo capitalized on a South Korean goalkeeping mistake. Raul Rangel preserved Mexico’s advantage with a double save in stoppage time.
As Group A winners, Mexico will remain in Mexico City for their Round of 32 fixture against a third-placed opponent. South Korea are second with three points; Czechia and South Africa each have one.
Head coach Javier Aguirre praised his side’s commitment, telling TV Azteca: “It was a match decided by fine margins. The performance may be forgotten, but the result will not.”