Romo Goal And Rangel Miracle Save Send Mexico To Last 32 - Relive The Best Moments
Mexico Vs South Korea Photo Gallery: Mexico beat South Korea 1-0 in Guadalajara to become the first team to officially qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2026 round of 32 knockouts. The match evolved into a tense, tactical game after South Korea's disciplined low block effectively restricted Mexico's early high press. In the 20th minute, Julian Quinones missed a very good chance when his powerful header was denied by a spectacular diving save by Kim Seung-gyu. However, the breakthrough arrived in the 50th minute when Luis Romo slotted into an empty net following a crazy melee. South Korea pressed aggressively late on, but Mexico keeper Raul Rangel pulled off a miracle double save in the 87th minute, denying Cho Gue-sung's header and subsequent close-range follow-up to preserve the lead. The crucial win places El Tri firmly at the top of Group A with 6 points. Up next, Mexico will face Czechia on June 25, while South Korea takes on South Africa. Relive the MEX vs KOR match in pics here
Players from Mexico warm up before the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Korea in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo
A mexico fan reacts ahead of the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Korea in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan
South Korean fans react before the World Cup Group A soccer match between Czechia and South Africa in Atlanta, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Fernando Llano
A helicopter flies with a flag of Mexico ahead of the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Korea in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo
A dog named Osito wears a Mexico national team jersey and rides in a bicycle basket of Jorge Rangel before a World Cup Group A soccer match against South Korea in Mexico City, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Marco Ugarte
A general view before the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Korea in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo
A Mexican and a South Korean fan pose for a picture ahead of the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Korea in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan
Mexico players pose for a team photo ahead of the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Korea in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko
Players from South Korea pose for photos before the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Korea in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo
South Korea's Kim Min-jae (4) dribbles during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Czechia and South Africa in Atlanta, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Fernando Llano
Mexico's Luis Romo (7) reacts in pain during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Korea in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan
Fans of South Korea cheer during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Korea in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo
Fans of Mexico cheer during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Korea in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo
South Korea's Son Heung-min (7), left, and Mexico goalkeeper Raul Rangel (1) during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Korea in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan
A fan of Mexico reacts ahead of the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Korea in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo
South Korea's Hwang In-beom (6) heads the ball during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Korea in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko
Mexico's Julian Quinones (16), left, vies for the ball with South Korea's Kim Moon-hwan (15) during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Korea in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan
South Korea's Lee Jae-sung (10) reacts as he is tackled by Mexico's Roberto Alvarado (25) during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Korea in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko
Mexico head coach Javier Aguirre reacts during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Korea in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko
Mexico's Edson Alvarez, right, defends against a kick by South Korea during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Korea in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo
Fans watch the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Korea in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko
Referee Gustavo Tejera, of Uruguay, gestures as South Korea's Lee Jae-sung, bottom, is challenged by Mexico's Roberto Alvarado (25) during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Korea in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Fernando Llano
Mexico goalkeeper Raul Rangel (1) blocks a shot from South Korea's Son Heung-min (7) during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Korea in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko
Mexico's Raul Jimenez (9), left, fights for the ball with South Korea's Lee Han-beom (2) during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Korea in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan
South Korea's Seol Young-woo (22) reacts after a missed shot at goal during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Korea in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko
South Korea's Lee Kang-in (19), left, challenges for the ball with Mexico's Jesus Gallardo (23), second right, during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Korea in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan
South Korea's Lee Jae-sung (10) challenges for the ball against Mexico's Jorge Sanchez (2) during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Korea in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo
South Korean soccer fans react as they watch a live broadcast of the World Cup Group A soccer match between South Korea and Mexico at a public viewing venue in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, June 19, 2026. AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon
South Korea's Lee Jae-sung (10) kneels in prayer before the second half of the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Korea in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Fernando Llano
Mexico's Jesus Gallardo (23) kicks the ball against South Korea's Lee Han-beom, bottom right, and goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu, top, during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Korea in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo
South Korea's Lee Jae-sung (10) and Mexico's Jorge Sanchez (2) battle for the ball during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Korea in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Fernando Llano
Mexico's Luis Romo (7), left, scores the opening goal during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Korea in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan
Mexico's Luis Romo (7), left, scores the opening goal during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Korea in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan
Mexico's Luis Romo (7), left, scores the opening goal during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Korea in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan
South Korea's Lee Han-beom (2) watches the ball as Mexico's Luis Romo scores the opening goal during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Korea in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo
Mexico players celebrate after Mexico's Luis Romo (7) scored the opening goal during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Korea in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan
Mexico's Luis Romo (7) is congratulated by Mexico head coach Javier Aguirre after scoring his team's first goal World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Korea in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko
Fans make their way in to the Fan Zone prior to the World Cup soccer match between Mexico and South Korea in Monterrey, Mexico, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Matias Delacroix
South Korea's Paik Seung-ho, left, reacts as referee Gustavo Tejera, of Uruguay, holds up a yellow card during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Korea in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo
Mexico's Edson Alvarez, left, runs for the ball against South Korea's Son Heung-min during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Korea in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo
Mexico's Edson Alvarez (4) and South Korea's Oh Hyeon-gyu (18) come together during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Korea in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Fernando Llano
Mexico's Raul Jimenez (9), left, vies for the ball with South Korea's Kim Min-jae (4) during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Korea in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan
Mexico's Raul Jimenez (9), front, tries a shoot next to South Korea goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu (1) during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Korea in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan
Mexico goalkeeper Raul Rangel (1) makes a save on the goal line during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Korea in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Fernando Llano
Mexico goalkeeper Raul Rangel (1), left, saves a ball during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Korea in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan
South Korea's Cho Gue-sung (9) and Yang Hyun-jun, bottom right, react after Mexico goalkeeper Raul Rangel, left rear, defended a shot during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Korea in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo
South Korea's Lee Han-beom (2) reacts during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Korea in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko
South Korea head coach Hong Myung-bo reacts during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Korea in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo
South Korea's players react at the end of the match during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Korea in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan
Players from Mexico celebrate after the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Korea in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo
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