Preview: Mexico vs South Korea – latest news, lineups, absences | 2026 World Cup (06/19/2026)

Last update at 17 June, 2026⏲️ Reading time: 6 minutes

Preview: Mexico vs South Korea | Group Stage | 2026 World Cup

Latest updates on Mexico vs South Korea at the 2026 World Cup. Probable lineups, suspensions, injuries, statistical data, and more.

Mexico and South Korea meet in the second matchday of the group stage at Akron Stadium in Zapopan.

Both teams come into the match after winning on the opening matchday, meaning they know that the winner will become the first national team to qualify for the Round of 32 of the 2026 World Cup.

Fans who do not want to miss any details can check our guide on how to watch Mexico vs South Korea live and follow all the action from anywhere.

With six points it is possible to finish third, although it would be very unlikely; what is certain is that they would be one of the eight best third-placed teams in the competition. The important thing for both sides in this clash is to get points.

Latest news: how the teams are coming into the match

Both national teams approach the game with positive feelings after collecting their first three points. Mexico knows it will have the support of its fans, but it cannot afford to be complacent against a South Korean side that performed at a very high level against the Czech Republic.

Mexico

Javier Aguirre will be forced to make one change to the lineup used against South Africa in the opening match of the 2026 World Cup. Center-back César Montes was sent off and therefore will not be available against the Asian side. Edson Álvarez is expected to replace him. As for the rest of the players selected by “Vasco” Aguirre, no major surprises are expected. However, Mexico will need to raise its level to secure a positive result.

South Korea

The South Korean national team, meanwhile, was one of the standout sides of the opening group-stage matchday. Against the Czech Republic, they displayed excellent football, dynamic and attacking. Their main drawback was a lack of efficiency in both penalty areas, as they created enough chances to have won by more than one goal against the Europeans. Given the strong overall performance of the team, no changes are expected in Hong Myung-bo’s lineup.

Mexico vs South Korea: recent meetings

Mexico and South Korea have faced each other on several occasions. Four of the last five encounters were friendlies, while they also met on the final group-stage matchday of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. The Mexican victory secured a place in the Round of 16 for El Tri, while South Korea was eliminated following that defeat.

(02/15/2006) Mexico 0-1 South Korea
(01/30/2014) Mexico 4-0 South Korea
(06/23/2018) South Korea 1-2 Mexico
(11/14/2020) Mexico 3-2 South Korea
(09/10/2025) Mexico 2-2 South Korea

Probable lineups

Both Mexico and South Korea are expected to repeat the lineups from the first group-stage matchday following their respective victories. The only change will be the inclusion of Edson Álvarez in place of the suspended César Montes in Javier Aguirre’s team.

Position	–Mexico	–South Korea
Goalkeeper	Rangel	Kim Seung-Gyu
Defenders	Reyes Montes Vasquez Gallardo	Lee Kim Min-Jae Lee Gi-Hyuk Seol Lee Tae-Seok
Midfielders	Lira Fidalgo Gutiérrez	Paik Hwang Lee Jae-Sung Lee Kang-In
Forwards	Quiñones Alvarado Jiménez	Son

Tactical analysis: will South Korea dominate?

In their opening matches, both teams took the initiative in their respective games. However, Mexico struggled to maintain consistency throughout the ninety minutes and went through periods in which they surrendered possession and territory to South Africa. South Korea, on the other hand, completely controlled the Czech Republic. Therefore, it is highly likely that the South Korean national team will dominate the game through its combination play.

In this context, it will be interesting to see how Javier Aguirre reacts, as he is a coach who does not feel uncomfortable when his team has to sit deeper. Where Mexico does hold an advantage is in aerial play and set pieces. In fact, that is how the Asian side conceded its goal in its debut. Therefore, how South Korea defends set-piece situations will be crucial, as Mexico can cause significant damage in those scenarios.

Key players to watch

The most important players for each team are Raúl Jiménez for Mexico and Kang-In Lee for South Korea.

Raúl Jiménez – Mexico

The Fulham striker already showed in the opening match of the 2026 World Cup that he needs quality crosses to be lethal inside the opposition penalty area. He is the difference-maker for El Tri. Furthermore, considering South Korea’s difficulties when defending crosses into the box, this is a weapon that Javier Aguirre’s side will look to exploit repeatedly. This could be his World Cup.

Kang-In Lee – South Korea

The PSG attacking midfielder is the standout player of his national team, the one who brings composure whenever the ball is at his feet and the one who provides the final pass. If Kang-In Lee performs well, South Korea can dominate large portions of the match, keeping Mexico away from its own penalty area. The key for Hong Myung-bo’s team is ensuring that Kang-In Lee is heavily involved in the game.

Betting market analysis and odds

According to the latest odds for the Mexico vs South Korea match, the host nation is considered the favorite to win, with prices ranging from 1.91 to 2.04. However, Javier Aguirre’s side left much to be desired in terms of performance during its debut.

There is still time to take advantage of the best bonuses and offers for betting on the 2026 World Cup. Check the available benefits for new users and get an extra boost before they expire.

Get Bonus

South Korea, on the other hand, left very positive impressions, although it lacked efficiency in both penalty areas. Despite bookmakers leaning toward both teams not scoring, the playing style of the Asian side makes that outcome difficult to imagine.

Final prediction

On the pitch, we will see two national teams that started the World Cup on the right foot. Mexico will try to take advantage of its strength from set pieces, while South Korea will seek to impose its rhythm through possession. The positive impressions left by the Asian side and Mexico’s home advantage point toward a draw.

Our Mexico vs. South Korea prediction and odds are now available on BetBrothers. Find out which team has the better chance of winning and discover the best opportunities to place your 2026 World Cup bets below 👇