Goalkeeping error gifts Mexico a place in the last 16

Mexico became the first team to secure their place in the last 16 of the 2026 World Cup, winning Group A with a 1-0 victory over South Korea. The only goal came in the 50th minute when goalkeeper Kim Sun-kyu collided with a teammate attempting to collect a routine ball, spilling it straight to Luis Romo who finished into an empty net. With six points from two games, Mexico are guaranteed to top the group.

World Cup

2026

• #
  Team
  P
  Pts
• #
  Team
  P
  Pts
• 1

  

  Mexico

  2

  6
  1

  

  Mexico

  2

  6
• 2

  

  South Korea

  2

  3
  2

  

  South Korea

  2

  3
• 3

  

  Czechia

  2

  1
  3

  

  Czechia

  2

  1
• 4

  

  South Africa

  2

  1
  4

  

  South Africa

  2

  1

Play-offs

Possible play-offs

The match was largely uneventful. South Korea's best chance came early when Heung-min Son broke through, rounded the goalkeeper and looked certain to score, only for Edson Álvarez to produce an acrobatic goal-line clearance — with offside also called. Mexico's goalkeeper Raúl Rangel was the busier of the two in the closing stages, making two stunning saves to deny Gi-sung Cho and Hyeon-jun Yang in quick succession.

South Korea remain second in the group with three points heading into the final round.