ZAPOPAN/MEXICO CITY, JUN 12 (IANS): The opening days of the FIFA World Cup 2026 delivered drama, resilience and celebration as South Korea staged a comeback victory over Czechia while hosts Mexico ignited their campaign with a fiery win against South Africa. However, the spectacle was tempered by renewed concerns over ticket pricing after empty seats were visible during one of the matches.
South Korea began their Group A journey at Guadalajara Stadium with a 2-1 triumph over Czechia. Despite dominating early exchanges, the Koreans fell behind in the 59th minute when Czech captain Ladislav Krejci powered home a header from Vladimir Coufal’s long throw. The setback only spurred Korea into action. Eight minutes later, Hwang In-beom restored parity with a composed finish after a clever assist from Lee Kang-in. The turnaround was completed in the 80th minute when Oh Hyeon-gyu tucked in Hwang’s low cross from the right. Czechia pressed hard for an equaliser, but Adam Hlozek’s effort was brilliantly denied by goalkeeper Kim Seunggyu. The win marked Korea’s third consecutive World Cup success against European opposition, following victories over Portugal in 2022 and Germany in 2018.
Mexico ignite World Cup dream by defeating South Africa in fiery opener
At Estadio Azteca, Mexico thrilled a packed home crowd of more than 80,000 with a 2-0 win over South Africa in the tournament’s opening fixture. Julian Quinones etched his name into World Cup history by scoring the first goal of the competition, sending the stadium into raptures. His pace and movement troubled the South African defence throughout, and he nearly doubled his tally before halftime.
South Africa’s hopes of a comeback were dashed early in the second half when Yaya Sithole was shown a straight red card for hauling down Brian Gutierrez. Mexico capitalised on the advantage, with veteran striker Raul Jimenez doubling the lead through a clinical finish. The match descended into further drama as Themba Zwane was dismissed for violent conduct, reducing South Africa to nine men. Deep into stoppage time, Mexico’s Cesar Montes also received a red card for a reckless challenge, ensuring the contest ended with only 19 players on the pitch. Despite the chaotic finale, Mexico’s victory provided the perfect start to their World Cup campaign, with Quinones and Jimenez embodying the team’s attacking spirit and the Azteca crowd supplying an unforgettable atmosphere.
Empty seats at World Cup match renews concerns over ticket prices
While Mexico’s opener showcased the passion of the home crowd, the Korea–Czechia clash at Guadalajara highlighted concerns over ticket affordability. FIFA reported an attendance of 44,985 at the 46,000-seat stadium, but visible empty rows sparked criticism of the organisation’s pricing model. Fans blamed high costs for the lack of full stands, arguing that ordinary supporters were being priced out of the expanded 48-team tournament.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended the pricing, insisting it was in line with other major sporting events and noting that demand had exceeded expectations “by a factor of 10 or more.” FIFA has sold more than six million tickets, but groups such as Football Supporters Europe (FSE) warned that “extortionate” pricing has jumped fivefold compared to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
As the tournament unfolds, the balance between thrilling football and accessibility for fans remains a pressing issue. For now, South Korea’s resilience, Mexico’s fiery opener, and the atmosphere of the World Cup have set the stage for a memorable competition, even as debates over affordability continue to simmer.
