Mexico's Home-Field Advantage? Hong Myung-bo's Team Holds a Huge Edge in the 2026 FIFA World Cup

South Korea national football team under Hong Myung-bo has grabbed what may be its best-ever advantage after beating the Czech Republic. The team's focus now shifts to the match against host nation Mexico, which will be the biggest turning point in the group stage. On paper, Mexico's strength and the one-sided support of the home crowd look daunting, but a closer look shows it is not an insurmountable mountain. In fact, the timing is ideal for South Korea to target first place in the group.
The South Korea national football team, led by Hong Myung-bo, will play its second Group A match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup against Mexico at Guadalajara Stadium in Guadalajara, Mexico, at 10 a.m. on the 19th Korea time. South Korea boosted its chances of reaching the round of 32 to 93 percent with a 2-1 win over the Czech Republic, while Mexico beat South Africa 2-0. The match is effectively a showdown for first place in Group A.
The biggest boost for South Korea ahead of this clash is Mexico's loss of personnel. Despite winning its opening match, Mexico is reeling from a major blow late in the game. Cesar Montes, the 195-cm center back who serves as vice captain and anchors the defense, will miss the match against South Korea because of a suspension after being sent off. For South Korea, it is comparable to losing Kim Min-jae. Montes, who was regarded as a more decisive "real ace" than star striker Raúl Jiménez, is out, and that creates serious cracks in Mexico's buildup play and aerial strength.
Another useful target is the tactical weakness in Mexico's game, as pointed out by Jürgen Klopp, the former Liverpool F.C. manager. Klopp criticized Mexico's approach as "poor tactics" after it dropped deep and allowed counterattacks even with a numerical advantage following South Africa's red card.

Even if South Korea loses to Mexico, it can still secure second place on its own. A win over South Africa would guarantee second place regardless of other results. Even a draw could be enough, depending on the tiebreakers. In the worst case, South Korea could still advance to the round of 32 as the third-place team. If it advances as Group A runner-up, it would face one of Switzerland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, or Qatar. All of those opponents are manageable. Finishing second would also send South Korea to SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles (LA), a city with a large Korean community. That could make the match feel like a home game. However, finishing second also carries the burden of possibly meeting Japan in the round of 16. A matchup with one of the Netherlands, Japan, or Sweden is likely.
Finishing first in the group would also bring major benefits. Ironically, one of them is the altitude. If South Korea advances as group winner, it will play at Azteca Stadium in Mexico City. The venue sits at 2,240 meters above sea level, higher than Guadalajara Stadium, where South Korea plays its first two group matches. That could be a major advantage for a team that has trained intensely at high altitude for the past two weeks and has continued to play at altitude throughout qualifying.
Teams coming from the United States would hardly be able to show their full quality there. Advancing as Group A winner could mean facing powerhouses such as England in the round of 16, but it could also serve as a springboard for South Korea's best-ever World Cup finish. First place is preferable, but second place is not bad either. There is no reason to be intimidated by the host nation's reputation. Against a shaken Mexico side that has lost its reliable shield, Hong Myung-bo's team is preparing for a bold head-on challenge.

jsi@fnnews.com Jeon Sang-il Reporter