Mexico - South Korea: score, highlights and statistics

Mexico and South Korea collide in a crucial Group A fixture at the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Estadio Akron in Guadalajara - a match that could define who controls their own destiny heading into the final group-stage round.

Match Info: Mexico vs South Korea

Mexico vs South Korea is scheduled for Friday, 19 June 2026 at 02:00 BST (01:00 UTC) at the Estadio Akron in Guadalajara, Mexico. The match is part of Group A of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with South Africa and Czechia completing the quartet.

Where to Watch Mexico vs South Korea?

Viewers in the United States have the widest range of options: on TV, the match airs on FOX and Telemundo, while online it is available through FOX One, Foxsports.com, Fubo TV, Peacock, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo, and Futbol de Primera Radio - at least 6 different ways to follow the action live.

In the United Kingdom the match can be watched via international streaming services with a subscription. Australian fans can stream it on SBS On Demand and New Zealand viewers on TVNZ+. Canada has the match on TSN+. In Mexico itself - where the atmosphere will naturally be electric - the game airs on Azteca 7 on TV and on Azteca Deportes En Vivo and VIX online.

Elsewhere, South American fans can tune in via DIRECTV GO and DIRECTV Sports Argentina (Argentina) or CazéTV (Brazil). European viewers are covered by DAZN España (Spain), beIN SPORTS CONNECT F.R. (France), and DAZN Italia (Italy). Polish fans can watch for free on TVP 1 or TVP Sport on television and on sport.tvp.pl or the TVP Sport App online.

Mexico vs South Korea - Match Preview

This second-round Group A encounter puts co-host Mexico against one of Asia's strongest sides, with 3 points capable of all but securing progression to the round of 32 for the winner.

Mexico enter as co-hosts making their 18th World Cup appearance - the most of any CONCACAF nation. Playing at home is both an advantage and an obligation; the country's football public demands more than merely reaching the knockout stage. Their first Group A match against South Africa on 11 June at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City set the tone, and a second victory at the Estadio Akron would put them on the verge of advancing with a game to spare.

South Korea arrive at their 12th World Cup with plenty of ambition. They opened Group A against Czechia on 11 June at this very Estadio Akron. The Korean side carries one particularly notable motivation into this game: they have never beaten Mexico in any of their previous encounters. The 2-2 draw in September 2025 was the closest they have come, and Guadalajara offers the chance to rewrite that record on football's biggest stage.

Head-to-Head: Mexico vs South Korea

Mexico have an unblemished record against South Korea across the 3 most recent meetings - 2 wins and 1 draw - including both previous World Cup clashes. That statistic is not lost on either camp as the two sides prepare to meet again at a major tournament.

The 3 most recent meetings between Mexico and South Korea:

• 10 September 2025 - Mexico 2:2 South Korea (friendly)
• 14 November 2020 - Mexico 3:2 South Korea (friendly)
• 23 June 2018 - South Korea 1:2 Mexico (2018 FIFA World Cup, Russia, Group F)

Mexico - Recent Form

Mexico arrive at the 2026 World Cup on an unbeaten run of 5 matches - 3 wins and 2 draws - having scored 8 goals and conceded just 1 in the process.

The highlights are striking: a 4-0 demolition of Iceland in February 2026 was the most emphatic result of the preparation period, while the 1-0 win over Australia on 31 May demonstrated that defensive organisation is tight heading into the tournament. Two draws against Portugal (0-0 in March) and Belgium (1-1 in April) came against opponents of the highest quality and speak to a resilient structure rather than poor attacking output.

The 2-0 win over Ghana on 23 May rounded off Mexico's pre-tournament preparations in disciplined fashion. With 8 goals scored and only 1 conceded across the last 5 outings, El Tri carry genuine momentum into every match they play on home soil.

South Korea - Recent Form

South Korea enter the World Cup with 3 wins from their last 5 matches, though their record is uneven - the 2 defeats arrived in March and were followed by 2 convincing victories, suggesting a team that found its best form at exactly the right moment.

The 5-0 rout of Trinidad and Tobago on 31 May 2026 was the most impressive display of their preparation, a statement of attacking intent. Seven days later, on 4 June, South Korea defeated El Salvador 1-0 to close out their warm-ups with a clean sheet - an important sign of defensive improvement before the tournament kicked off.

Earlier in the spring, a 0-4 defeat to Ivory Coast on 28 March and a 0-1 loss away to Austria on 31 March exposed vulnerabilities at the back: 5 goals conceded in just 2 matches. The response in the 2 most recent outings was convincing, but only the test against a Mexico side defending on home soil will confirm whether those defensive improvements have taken hold.

Facts and Statistics

5 notable facts about the Mexico vs South Korea rivalry:

• Mexico are unbeaten in all 3 recorded recent meetings with South Korea: 2 wins and 1 draw.
• Mexico won both previous World Cup meetings: 3-1 in France in 1998 and 2-1 in Russia in 2018.
• In the 2018 Russia match, Carlos Vela scored a penalty and Javier Hernández scored his 50th international goal for Mexico.
• The September 2025 draw was the first time South Korea avoided defeat against Mexico - the 2-2 result was their first positive outcome in this rivalry.
• Mexico's 18th World Cup appearance makes them the most represented nation from CONCACAF in tournament history, while South Korea's 12th appearance extends a run of consecutive qualifications stretching back to 1986.