The South Korea national football team suffered a disappointing loss to Mexico in the 2026 World Cup. Despite a strong effort, they were unable to overcome a defensive mistake that led to a goal in the 85th minute. The team, led by manager Hong Myung-bo, started the game with a 3-4-2-1 formation, with Son Heung-min at the forefront. They made several changes to their lineup, including substituting Son with Oh Hyeon-gyu in the 77th minute, but were unable to capitalize on their scoring opportunities. Mexico, on the other hand, was able to secure a 1-0 victory, thanks to a goal from Luis Romo in the 85th minute. The win gave Mexico an early lock on the top spot in Group A, while South Korea was left to regroup and prepare for their next match against South Africa on June 25. A win or draw in that match would secure South Korea's spot in the knockout stage, but a loss could put their chances in jeopardy. The team's captain, Son Heung-min, had a strong game, but was unable to score, leaving him one goal shy of tying the record for most goals scored by a Korean player in the World Cup.