Mexico vs South Korea

The history between Mexico and South Korea reads like a slow-burn rivalry that never quite ignited into genuine hatred — respect is the more accurate word. Their first meeting, a 5-3 South Korean win at the 1948 Olympics, was a chaotic affair. The fixture that matters came in Lyon at the 1998 World Cup, where Mexico's 3-1 group-stage victory featured a Ha Seok-ju own goal and a Ricardo Peláez brace that turned a sluggish contest into a comfortable Mexican afternoon. They met again in a 2014 friendly in San Antonio, Texas, where a second-string El Tri won 4-0. What makes this 2026 renewal compelling is that the gap has narrowed.

South Korea's generation, anchored by Son Heung-min and Kim Min-jae, plays its club football at a level that matches or exceeds most of Mexico's Europe-based contingent. Aguirre's Mexico will press high and try to force turnovers in the Korean defensive third, gambling that Edson Álvarez can dominate the midfield battle. Hong Myung-bo's counter-gamble is that his forwards are faster than Mexico's back line, which has shown vulnerability when dragged into footraces in wide channels.

If South Korea can survive the opening 25 minutes of Mexican intensity, the game shifts in their favour.