ZAPOPAN/VANCOUVER/LOS ANGELES, JUN 19 (IANS): Co-hosts Mexico became the first team to reach the round of 32 of the FIFA World Cup 2026 with a 1-0 win over South Korea here at Guadalajara Stadium on Friday (IST).
Luis Romo’s goal just after half-time put Mexico through as Group A winners with a match to go following a goalkeeping mistake by Kim Seung-gyu. Mexico stopper Raul Rangel made a superb double save in the dying minutes to preserve their lead.
With first place in the bag, Javier Aguirre’s side will now meet a third-placed team from one of Group C, E, F, H or I in the round of 32 in Mexico City on June 30. Korea are second on three points, with Czechia and South Africa also still alive in the knockout race with one point each.
Mexico will face the Czechia in their dead-rubber final group game while Korea play South Africa on June 25.
Both teams went into the clash in front of a passionate home crowd knowing that victory would guarantee progress in double-quick time.
Jesus Gallardo signalled Mexico’s intent to take charge of proceedings when he sent a low shot into the side-netting from almost the same patch of grass four minutes after the restart, and the co-hosts were celebrating one minute later when Romo was on hand to prod into the unguarded net after a mix-up between Kim Seunggyu and Lee Gihyuk.
South Korea captain Son Heung-min had the first real chance after 15 minutes. He lifted the ball over the goalkeeper, but Edson Álvarez cleared it off the line with a bicycle kick. Son was eventually flagged for offside, though replays showed it was very close.
Julian Quinones then forced a good save from the South Korean goalkeeper with a header, getting the home crowd loud again. The rest of a quiet first half belonged to South Korea.
They passed the ball around comfortably but failed to create any clear chances, though they did manage to quiet down the home fans.
The hosts started the second half with much more energy and took the lead five minutes in. Goalkeeper Kim came out for a high ball but crashed into his own defender, dropping the ball right to Romo. Romo easily tapped it into the empty net in the 50th minute.
Kim made up for his mistake in the 75th minute by standing his ground to block a close-range shot from Raol Jimenez with a brilliant save. With three minutes left, Mexico goalkeeper Raul Rangel made an incredible double save from Cho Gue-sung and Yang Hyun-jun to secure the win for Mexico.
David bags hat-trick as Canada thrash Qatar 6-0
Jonathan David notched a hat-trick while Cyle Larin and Nathan Saliba added goals as co-hosts Canada thrash nine-man Qatar 6-0 at BC Place Vancouver here on Friday (IST).
It is the first FIFA World Cup victory for the 2026 co-hosts, who, with four points, are on the precipice of the knockout round.
Canadians now need only a draw against Switzerland in their final match to finish top of the group.
Cyle Larin, fresh off his goal against Bosnia and Herzegovina, slotted home a rebound in the 16th minute.
David took it to another level, pulverising a volley that blazed past Mahmoud Abunada in the 29th.
The celebratory atmosphere at Vancouver’s BC Place stadium, however, was soured by a serious injury to Ismael Kone in the 51st minute.
Qatar’s Assim Madibo upended Kone with a clumsy challenge from behind to leave the Italy-based midfielder writhing in agony and clutching his left leg, AFC reports.
Kone was eventually stretchered off the pitch, waving to the crowd as he inhaled from an oxygen pipe and Madibo, who had initially been given a yellow card for the tackle, was sent off after it was upgraded to red following a VAR review.
With Qatar down to nine men, Canada took full advantage to score three more goals. Saliba – who had replaced the injured Kone – curled in a free-kick to make it 4-0 in the 64th minute.
The substitute celebrated his goal by racing to the sideline to hold up a replica of the stricken Kone’s Canadian jersey.
Another substitute, Jacob Shaffelburg, then helped make it 5-0, his fierce shot turned into the Qatar goal by defender Mohammad Manai. David then completed his hat-trick in the second minute of stoppage time to complete the win.
The Canadian striker is the first player to score a hat-trick on home soil since Geoff Hurst for England in 1966.
Manzambi double sends Swiss past Bosnia-Herzegovina
Midfielder Johan Manzambi scored twice in the second half to help Switzerland move to the top of Group B after Johan Manzambi bagged a brace in the second half to beat ten-man Bosnia and Herzegovina 4-1 here in their second FIFA World Cup match on Friday (IST) here at Los Angeles Stadium.
The Freiburg star struck twice in a goal-laden second half as the Swiss followed up their opening-match draw against Qatar with an impressive and ultimately deserved victory.
At 20 years and 247 days, Manzambi became the youngest player to score two or more goals in a FIFA World Cup match for Switzerland. He is also the first player to score multiple World Cup goals for the Swiss having come off the bench.
After a forgettable first period, the match burst into life after the interval when Manzambi came off the bench to crash home an unstoppable first-time strike. Fellow substitute Ruben Vargas doubled their advantage with a smart right-footed finish before setting up Manzambi to settle the outcome and put himself in the adidas Golden Boot picture, FIFA reports.
The Bosnians, who had lost Tarik Muharemovic to a red card for a professional foul on Breel Embolo, pulled a goal back in stoppage time with a ferocious Ermin Mahmic strike.
There was no hope of a comeback, though, and Switzerland captain Granit Xhaka restored their three-goal cushion as time ticked down with a coolly dispatched penalty.