The South Korea national football team will face Mexico in the 2026 FIFA World Cup North and Central America Zone A group stage second round at the Estadio Akron in Guadalajara, Mexico on the 19th. Coach Hong Myung-bo's team defeated the Czech Republic with a dramatic comeback victory. Throughout the game, they took an aggressive stance and looked for opportunities, but were shaken by conceding the first goal. However, Hwang In-beom's equalizing goal and Oh Hyeon-gyu's winning goal gave them a 2-1 victory. Host country Mexico won 2-0 against South Africa, taking advantage of their home field. The upcoming second round can be seen as a deciding match for the top spot in the group. The team that wins on the day will virtually secure a spot in the round of 32. Mexico has suffered a setback ahead of the game. In the previous game against South Africa, Mexico's captain Cesar Montes was sent off. According to FIFA regulations, he will not be able to play in the game against Korea due to a one-game suspension. The problem is that Montes is the captain, and his absence will be deeply felt. Some argue that Montes is the core of Mexico's tactics, and his influence on coach Javier Aguirre's strategy is immense. The issue is that there is no clear replacement for Montes. Mexico's central defenders are limited to Johan Vasquez and Israel Reyes. Edson Alvarez is being considered as a possible replacement, but he has played as a defensive midfielder for a long time. He has mainly played in the midfield in Europe, raising questions about whether he is suitable for the central defender position. Former Mexican national team player Cristian Jimenez, who appeared on FOX ONE's soccer program 'Cuadro Titular', questioned when Alvarez last played as a center back. Alvarez is being considered as a replacement because he started his career as a central defender. He played for Club America's youth team and was recognized for his potential as a center back in his early professional career. Later, he moved to a defensive midfielder position, utilizing his excellent activity and game coordination skills, and has grown into a world-class midfielder, playing for Ajax, West Ham, and Fenerbahce. Currently, he plays a key role in the midfield for both the national team and his club, but can also play in the defense line if needed. However, there are differing opinions about Alvarez's deployment as a center back. Some experts prefer to move Israel Reyes to the center and deploy Jorge Sanchez as a right fullback, but the partnership between Reyes and Johan Vasquez has not been tested, and Sanchez also has question marks over his defensive stability. Jimenez asked who is the most similar player to Cesar Montes, and nominated Alvarez as an alternative. He expressed his trust in Alvarez, saying that he is a leader of the national team and can play various roles. Ultimately, Mexico's biggest task ahead of the game against Korea is to minimize the absence of Montes. It remains to be seen whether coach Aguirre will take a gamble and deploy Alvarez in the defense line.