Mexico vs South Korea World cup 2026
El Tri’s 2nd home game at Chivas’ Estadio Akron in Guadalajara is a Group A potential decider. Javier Aguirre meets Hong Myung-bo as Mexico look to follow up their opening win, while Son Heung-min leads Korea in his 4th and likely last World Cup.
Mexico
CONCACAF · Group A
VS
9:00 PM
ET · Jun 18
South Korea
Asia · Group A
Quick Answer
Watch in 30 seconds
📺 Watch Mexico vs South Korea on Fox / Telemundo in the USA, TUDN / Canal 5 / Azteca 7 free in Mexico, KBS / SBS / MBC free in South Korea, BBC iPlayer free in the UK, and beIN Sports across MENA.
Date
Jun 18, 2026
Kickoff
9:00 PM ET
Free Watch
Canal 5 · KBS
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🇲🇽 MEX Win
1.85
Draw
3.30
🇰🇷 KOR Win
4.00
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Kickoff Time in Your Country
Mexico vs South Korea kicks off at 9:00 PM ET Thursday, June 18 (8:00 PM CDT local Guadalajara, 2:00 AM Fri BST UK, 10:00 AM Fri KST Seoul).
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South Korea
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Es’hailSat 25.5°E / 26°E
Symbol Rate: 27500 · FEC: 2/3 · DVB-S2 8PSK · H = Horizontal · V = Vertical
11013 H11054 H11310 H11350 V11390 H11430 VEs’hailSat 25.5°E / 26°E
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Symbol Rate: 27500 · FEC: 5/6 · DVB-S2 (Saudi Arabia)
12169 VEutelsat 8 West B / Nilesat 7°W
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12604 H11881 V12380 H
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Recent Highlights
Catch up on both teams ahead of kickoff at Estadio Akron, home of Chivas Guadalajara in Zapopan.
Mexico Recent Form
Gold Cup Final 2-1 vs USA · 2025
South Korea Recent Form
Qualifier 2-0 vs Iraq · 2025
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Mexico vs South Korea Prediction
Mexico (El Tri) make their 18th World Cup appearance, hosting their 3rd tournament (after 1970 and 1986). Coach Javier Aguirre returned for his 3rd spell in July 2024, with Rafa Márquez as assistant. Mexico are 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup champions (10th title, record), beating USA 2-1 in the final at Houston with Edson Álvarez header winner. Captain Edson Álvarez (Fenerbahçe on loan from West Ham) is back after February ankle surgery. Striker Raúl Jiménez (Fulham, 34, 44 intl goals, 9 PL goals in 25 starts in 2025-26) leads the attack. Other key players: Santiago Giménez (AC Milan), goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa (40, going for 6th WC), César Montes, Jesús Gallardo, Johan Vásquez, Luis Chávez (Dynamo Moscow), Alexis Vega, Orbelín Pineda, 17-year-old midfielder Gilberto Mora. Notable absentee: Hirving “Chucky” Lozano (no club). Mexico opened with a win at Estadio Azteca over South Africa on June 11. Home unbeaten run on Mexican soil now 22 games.
South Korea (Taegeuk Warriors) make their 12th World Cup appearance, 11th consecutive since 1986 (the longest active streak in Asia). Coach Hong Myung-bo (former captain, 2002 SF hero, took over August 2024) named his squad May 16. Captain Son Heung-min (LAFC, 142 caps, 52 intl goals) plays his 4th WC and is hunting Cha Bum-kun’s all-time scoring record (4 goals away). After 10 years at Tottenham, Son moved to LAFC in MLS in summer 2025. Star midfielder Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain, 38 club games this season). Centre-back Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich, 37 appearances). Other key players: Hwang Hee-chan (Wolves), Hwang In-beom (Feyenoord), Lee Jae-sung (Mainz), Cho Gue-sung (Midtjylland), Jens Castrop (B.Mönchengladbach), goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo. Lost their opening match to Czechia in Guadalajara on June 11. Best WC: 4th place at home in 2002 (co-hosted with Japan).
Best bet: Mexico are favourites at home with a passionate Guadalajara crowd of 48,000 in their pocket. The Mexicans have 22 unbeaten on home soil since October 2018, and history is on their side at the World Cup: Mexico 3-1 Korea (1998 France) and Mexico 2-1 Korea (2018 Russia, Son consolation in injury time). Korea have improved under Hong Myung-bo but lack the depth Mexico bring on home soil. The fixture has had goals in all 6 of their previous meetings since 1998. Over 2.5 goals has clear value. Mexico 2-1 with Son anytime scorer is a smart double pick.
Likely Winner
🇲🇽 Mexico
Total Goals
Over 2.5
BTTS
Yes
Score
2 – 1
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Key Players to Watch
The standout names who could decide this Group A heavyweight clash in Guadalajara.
MEXICO
Coach: Javier Aguirre
Edson Álvarez (C)
Midfielder · Fenerbahçe, Gold Cup MVP
Raúl Jiménez
Striker · Fulham, 44 intl goals
Santiago Giménez
Striker · AC Milan
César Montes
Defender · Lokomotiv Moscow
Guillermo Ochoa
Goalkeeper · 6th World Cup at 40
SOUTH KOREA
Coach: Hong Myung-bo
Son Heung-min (C)
Forward · LAFC, 142 caps, 4th WC
Kim Min-jae
Defender · Bayern Munich
Lee Kang-in
Midfielder · PSG
Hwang Hee-chan
Forward · Wolves
Jo Hyeon-woo
Goalkeeper · Ulsan HD
Match Venue
Estadio Akron
Zapopan, Jalisco · FIFA: Guadalajara Stadium
Capacity
48,000
Opened
2010
Location
Zapopan
WC Games
4
Opened in 2010, Estadio Akron (also known as Estadio Omnilife or Estadio Chivas) is the home of Liga MX club C.D. Guadalajara (Chivas). Designed by Mexican architect Massimiliano Fuksas, the stadium features a unique grass-covered roof that blends with the surrounding hillside landscape. Located in Zapopan, approximately 15 km west of Guadalajara city centre, it has hosted Canelo Álvarez boxing fights plus concerts from Elton John, Coldplay, and Shakira. Tournament capacity is 48,000. Hosts 4 World Cup matches including Korea vs Czechia opener, Mexico vs Korea, Colombia vs DR Congo (June 23), and Uruguay vs Spain (June 26). Reachable via Mi Tren Line 3 and Autotrén.
Head-to-Head Record
Mexico and South Korea have met 8 times in history with Mexico winning 4, Korea winning 2, and 2 draws. The pair have met twice before at the World Cup, both at the group stage and both with Mexico victorious. Their most famous WC meeting was the 2018 Russia clash, where Carlos Vela penalty and Javier Hernández strike gave Mexico a 2-1 win, with Son Heung-min scoring a late consolation. They also met in a 2025 friendly in Nashville which Korea won 2-0 with Son Heung-min scoring and assisting.
4
🇲🇽 MEX Wins
2
Draws
2
🇰🇷 KOR Wins
Notable Meetings
⚽ 2025 Nashville Friendly: South Korea 2-0 Mexico (Son brace)
🏆 2018 WC Russia Group F: Mexico 2-1 South Korea (Vela pen, Chicharito, Son)
⚽ 2020 Friendly Vienna: Mexico 3-2 South Korea
🏆 1998 WC France Group E: Mexico 3-1 South Korea
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Frequently Asked Questions
In the United States the match airs on Fox (English) and Telemundo (Spanish), with streaming on FuboTV and Peacock. Mexican fans can watch on TUDN, Canal 5 (Televisa) and Azteca 7 free-to-air, or stream on ViX. Korean viewers get free coverage on KBS, SBS, and MBC, with streaming on Coupang Play. BBC One and BBC iPlayer stream the match free in the UK. CTV is free in Canada. beIN Sports covers MENA.
Kickoff is 9:00 PM ET on Thursday June 18, 2026 (01:00 GMT Friday). Locally in Guadalajara it is 8:00 PM CDT. That works out to 6:00 PM PT in Los Angeles, 2:00 AM Friday BST in the UK, 3:00 AM Friday CEST in Europe, 10:00 AM Friday KST in Seoul, 5:00 AM Friday GST in Dubai, and 6:30 AM Friday IST in India.
Yes. Canal 5 and Azteca 7 are free in Mexico, KBS, SBS, and MBC are free in South Korea, BBC iPlayer and ITVX are free in the UK, ARD/ZDF are free in Germany, CTV is free in Canada, SBS is free in Australia, and Alkass is free across MENA.
Connect ExpressVPN or NordVPN to a Mexican server for Canal 5 or TUDN, a Korean server for KBS, a UK server for BBC iPlayer or ITVX, or your home country server while traveling abroad. Only use a VPN with services you legally subscribe to.
Fox carries the English broadcast and Telemundo handles Spanish. You can watch through FuboTV, Sling TV, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, or Peacock. All Group Stage games air across Fox and FS1.
beIN Sports HD 1 is at 11013 H on Es’hailSat 26°E. The full satellite frequency list is in the section above.
Mexico are favourites at home with a passionate Guadalajara crowd backing them and a 22-game unbeaten run on Mexican soil. El Tri are 2025 Gold Cup champions with Edson Álvarez, Raúl Jiménez (44 intl goals), and Santiago Giménez leading the squad. South Korea bring captain Son Heung-min (LAFC, 4th WC, 142 caps), Lee Kang-in (PSG), and Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich). Mexico have won both previous World Cup meetings (1998 and 2018, both 2-1 or 3-1 scores). Our prediction is a 2-1 Mexico win.
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More Matches to Watch
Catch the rest of Group A and other key matches on Watch to Football.
🇲🇽 Mexico Group A Matches
🇰🇷 South Korea Group A Matches
More World Cup 2026 Matches
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