![Lee Jae-sung passes a ball from a corner kick during South Korea's Group A opener against the Czech Republic at Guadalajara Stadium in Zapopan, Mexico, on Friday. [Yonhap]](https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2026/06/13/rcv.YNA.20260612.PYH2026061216690001300_P1.jpg)
South Korea's chances of advancing to the round of 32 at the 2026 North America World Cup have risen to 93% following the team's opening victory, foreign media reported.
US outlet The Athletic put South Korea's odds of reaching the knockout stage at 93% after the team secured its first win, offering a relatively optimistic outlook on the squad's tournament prospects.
Before the tournament began, The Athletic had put South Korea's chances of advancing at 70.35%.
Britain's BBC also leaned toward South Korea making the round of 32, noting that in a 48-team tournament, a team statistically needs three points and a goal difference of zero or better to advance. South Korea is likely to progress from the group stage if it picks up at least one more point in its remaining two matches or avoids a negative goal difference.
South Korea, coached by Hong Myung-bo, came from behind to beat the Czech Republic 2-1 in their Group A opener at Guadalajara Stadium in Mexico on Friday (Korea time).
Trailing 0-1, South Korea turned the match around with an equalizer from Hwang In-beom (Feyenoord) in the 22nd minute of the second half and a go-ahead goal from Oh Hyeon-gyu (Besiktas) in the 35th minute of the second half.
With the win, South Korea sit second in Group A, behind Mexico, who beat South Africa 2-0 on the same day. The Czech Republic are third and South Africa fourth on goal difference, both with zero points.
The expanded 48-team World Cup sends the top two finishers from each group, plus the eight best third-place teams, to the round of 32. Under new rules introduced for this tournament, head-to-head record is the first tiebreaker when two teams finish level on points in the group stage.
yjc@heraldcorp.com
