Hwang In-beom Leads South Korea, Fever-Stricken Oh Hyeon-gyu Scores Winner

South Korea opened the 2026 World Cup with a dramatic 2-1 comeback over the Czech Republic in Guadalajara on Friday morning, June 12. Hwang In-beom starred with a goal and an assist, but the biggest postgame spotlight fell on Besiktas striker Oh Hyeon-gyu, who scored the decisive goal while battling a 38-degree fever.

Oh said he felt unwell even before kickoff and was not sure he would be able to play at all. The team’s medical staff treated him intensively so he could at least be available for the closing stages. Korea was level at 1-1 when coach Hong Myung-bo made a bold move in the 69th minute, replacing captain Son Heung-min, a substitution that initially worried the Korean bench and fans.

Oh responded 11 minutes after coming on. He worked tirelessly up front, won a physical duel in the box, and finished with his left foot from Hwang’s cross to complete the turnaround against Matěj Kovář. After the final whistle, he said, “My fever rose to 38 degrees and I wondered if I could even play today,” adding that the medical team’s care helped him get on the pitch and, in his words, “also allowed me to score tonight.”

He also said playing in a World Cup like this was “very exciting,” thanked the coach for the opportunity, and said he was grateful to contribute to the win. The result left South Korea second in Group 1 behind host Mexico, which beat South Africa 2-0, and gave Korea its first opening-match World Cup win in 16 years. South Korea will face Mexico on the 19th in a match that could decide first place in the group, and Oh said the team will study the host carefully and give “100%” in that game.