South Korea Says Beating Mexico Would Virtually Seal the Deal as New Rules Change Everything [2026 FIFA World Cup]

[Financial News] The South Korea national football team, led by Hong Myung-bo, is aiming to kill two birds with one stone by using co-host Mexico as a stepping stone to secure an early berth in the round of 32 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup and clinch first place in Group A. The tournament's newly introduced head-to-head-first rule is giving the Taegeuk Warriors an ideal scenario.
South Korea will face Mexico in its second Group A match at 10 a.m. on the 19th at Guadalajara Stadium in Guadalajara, Mexico. After opening with a 2-1 comeback win over the Czech Republic, South Korea could put itself in a commanding position to lock up first place early if it also defeats Mexico.
This early-clinching scenario is possible because of a major change in the tournament regulations. In previous World Cups, teams tied on points were ranked first by overall goal difference. Starting with this 2026 FIFA World Cup, however, head-to-head results among the tied teams take priority.
If South Korea beats Mexico to reach six points with two wins, and the Czech Republic does not lose to South Africa in the earlier match, South Korea will secure first place in the group. Even if South Korea then loses to South Africa in its third match and Mexico or the Czech Republic later also reaches six points, South Korea would still finish ahead on head-to-head results. On the other hand, a loss would also leave open the risk of Mexico clinching first place early, making this a razor-thin, do-or-die showdown.

The reward for finishing first in the group is enormous. If South Korea advances to the knockout stage as Group A winner, it will have six full days of rest after its final group match on the 25th and then begin the round of 32 on July 1.
The match venue is also set for Mexico City, which sits at an altitude of 2,200 meters. After spending the past month in Salt Lake City and Guadalajara, which is 1,571 meters above sea level, Hong Myung-bo's team has effectively received a perfect dose of altitude acclimatization. That means it could enjoy a major physical and environmental advantage over its round-of-32 opponent. The next opponent would also come from one of the third-place teams in Groups C, E, F, H, or I, offering a relatively favorable draw.
If three or more teams finish level on points, however, the calculations become more complicated. Under the so-called mini-league rule, only the results among the tied teams are considered, with ranking determined in order of points, goal difference, and goals scored. In the end, the cleanest and most complete solution to avoid all the nerve-racking permutations is simple: South Korea must beat Mexico.
With South Korea having conquered the altitude through thorough preparation, public attention is now focused on whether the team can ride the benefits of the newly changed head-to-head rule and celebrate a group-stage title on Mexican soil.
jsi@fnnews.com Jeon Sang-il Reporter