Mexico vs South Korea prediction, tips and odds | World Cup 2026

Mexico host South Korea at the Guadalajara Stadium in the second round of Group A fixtures at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with kick-off at 2:00 AM BST in the early hours of Friday 19 June, after both nations won their opening matches to sit level on three points at the top of the group.

El Tri beat South Africa 2-0 in the tournament opener with goals from Julian Quinones in the ninth minute and Raul Jimenez on 67, while South Korea came from behind to beat the Czech Republic 2-1, with Hwang In-beom and Oh Hyeon-gyu scoring after conceding a 59th-minute opener.

Mexico vs South Korea form and preview

Mexico arrive at this fixture on a run of four consecutive victories following draws with Portugal and Belgium, while scoring 11 goals and conceding just two across their last five matches.

The performance against South Africa was a statement of dominance from the hosts, with 16 shots to just three for their opponents, underlining the defensive structure that Javier Aguirre has instilled in this squad.

Raul Jimenez marked his fourth World Cup with a goal on 67 minutes against South Africa, taking his international record to 46 goals in 125 appearances for Mexico; the 35-year-old Fulham striker remains the focal point of the Mexican attack.

Mexico's defensive record in 2026 makes for striking reading: just two goals conceded in nine matches, an average of 0.22 per game.

Those checking the football betting markets will note that El Tri have kept clean sheets in three of their last five outings.

The only blemish on the opening night was Cesar Montes receiving a straight red card in the second minute of added time for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity, an absence that forces Aguirre into a defensive reshuffle for this match.

South Korea demonstrated impressive character in their opening fixture, overturning a second-half deficit after conceding a 59th-minute opener to win 2-1.

Hwang In-beom of Feyenoord was the standout performer, scoring one and assisting the other to become the third South Korean player to record a goal and an assist in the same World Cup match, after Choi Soon-ho in 1986 and current manager Hong Myung-bo in 1994.

Son Heung-min, captain and talisman with 56 goals in 145 international appearances, had six shots and generated an xG of 1.01 against the Czech Republic without finding the net, though the Los Angeles FC forward will be eager to open his account at what is his third World Cup.

South Korea's vulnerabilities were exposed when they suffered a 4-0 defeat to Ivory Coast and a 0-1 loss to Austria, two results that highlight difficulties against physically imposing and well-organised sides, a description that fits Aguirre's Mexico.

Across their last five matches, South Korea have scored eight goals but conceded six, a defensive record that compares unfavourably to Mexico's two conceded over the same period and points to a significant gap in solidity at the back.

Team news: Mexico vs South Korea

Mexico

The suspension of Montes is the defining selection issue for Mexico, with his red card for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity against South Africa removing a key aerial presence and ball-playing defender from the backline.

The most likely solution is for captain Edson Alvarez, who plays as a defensive midfielder at Fenerbahce, to drop into the centre-back role alongside Johan Vasquez of Genoa.

Alvarez has filled the position on at least two recent occasions, including the 1-0 victory over Australia in the pre-tournament friendlies.

Quinones, who scored in the ninth minute before coming off in the 79th with a fitness concern, is a doubt for this fixture after Aguirre revealed post-match that the winger had been limping and had asked to be substituted.

Should he be unavailable, Cesar Huerta of Anderlecht or Alexis Vega of Toluca would be the likeliest replacements on the left flank.

Gilberto Mora, the 17-year-old Tijuana midfielder, is one of the youngest players at the 2026 World Cup and made his tournament debut in the opening match, underlining the trust Aguirre places in him as a box-to-box option in central midfield.

South Korea

South Korea lost Cho Yu-min from the squad before the tournament began, reducing Hong Myung-bo's defensive options.

Kim Tae-hyeon of Kashima Antlers has returned to full training ahead of this fixture, though his availability for a starting role is yet to be confirmed.

Bae Jun-ho, the 22-year-old Stoke City midfielder, has returned to full training after an ankle complaint, though his place in the starting XI for this match remains uncertain.

Oh Hyeon-gyu of Besiktas and Hwang Hee-chan of Wolverhampton both came off the bench in the opening match to immediate effect, with the former scoring the winner minutes after his introduction.

Both are likely to be involved again, either from the start or as impact substitutes.

Hong is expected to name an unchanged starting side, with Kim Min-jae of Bayern Munich anchoring the back three and Lee Kang-in of Paris Saint-Germain pulling the strings in the number 10 role behind Son Heung-min.

As covered in our bet365 review, South Korea are the underdogs but carry genuine attacking threat.

Mexico vs South Korea predicted XIs

Mexico predicted XI (4-1-4-1): R Rangel; J Sanchez, E Alvarez, J Vasquez, J Gallardo; E Lira; R Alvarado, A Fidalgo, G Mora, J Quinones; R Jimenez.

South Korea predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Kim Seung-gyu; Lee Han-beom, Kim Min-jae, Lee Gi-hyuk; Lee Tae-seok, Paik Seung-ho, Hwang In-beom, Seol Young-woo; Lee Kang-in, Lee Jae-sung; Son Heung-min.

Head-to-head: Mexico vs South Korea

These two nations have met 14 times, with the overall record firmly in Mexico's favour: eight wins to South Korea's four, with two draws.

At the World Cup, Mexico hold a perfect record against South Korea, winning the previous two meetings between the sides in the competition.

In 1998 in France, El Tri won 3-1 in Lyon, with Luis Hernandez scoring twice in the final 15 minutes.

In 2018 in Russia, Mexico prevailed 2-1 through goals from Carlos Vela, from the penalty spot, and Javier Hernandez, with Son Heung-min pulling one back in added time.

The most recent encounter was a friendly in September 2025 in Nashville, United States, which finished 2-2, with Raul Jimenez and Santiago Gimenez scoring for Mexico, while Son Heung-min and Oh Hyeon-gyu replied for South Korea.

Prior to that draw, Mexico had won 3-2 in a friendly in November 2020, also in the United States, with goals from Jimenez, Uriel Antuna and Carlos Saucedo, continuing a pattern of Mexican dominance in this fixture.

Our Mexico vs South Korea prediction and tips