▲ Hwang In-beom passes the ball during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Group A match between South Korea and Mexico at Estadio Akron in Zapopan, Mexico, on June 18 (local time).
Hwang In-beom (Feyenoord) has expressed strong confidence in winning the next match despite the team's defeat in the second group stage game.
The South Korean national football team, led by head coach Hong Myung-bo, lost 0-1 to Mexico in the second match of Group A at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, held at Estadio Akron in Jalisco, Mexico, on June 19 (Korea Standard Time).
Speaking to reporters in the mixed zone after the match, Hwang said, "The situation is better now after the second match than it was during the last World Cup," adding, "If we prepare well, we will surely be able to bring happiness to many people once again with a strong performance and result."
Hwang shared, "After the Ghana match in the previous World Cup, I felt like I had hit a wall and even cried, but today, many of the plays we had prepared for were executed well. Since we only need a draw or a win in the remaining third match to advance without worrying about other scenarios, the players are relatively at ease."
Hwang, who led the team to a 2-1 comeback victory with one goal and one assist in the first match against the Czech Republic, started today's game and controlled the midfield for the full 90 minutes.
"After about 15 to 20 minutes into the first half, we took control of the game, and the opposing players started getting angry and frustrated with each other," Hwang noted. "While this is a positive sign, it is disappointing that we could not create more attacking opportunities."
He added, "We need to reflect as a team on why we couldn't create more threatening chances and focus on improving those areas for the next match."
With today's loss, South Korea's chances of finishing first in the group are gone, but they remain in a favorable position to advance to the Round of 32.
Maintaining second place in the group with one win and one loss (3 points), South Korea only needs a draw against South Africa in the final match to secure a spot in the Round of 32.
While confident of a win, Hwang remained cautious.
Regarding South Africa, he emphasized, "Their players have exceptional strength and speed derived from their physicality. If we lose focus for even a moment, the game could take a completely different turn. If we focus on preparing for this and play our own game, we can certainly win the third match."
Meanwhile, Hwang, who was ruled out for the season due to an ankle injury last March, played a full match today for the first time in about three months.
He cited the longer intervals between matches in this tournament, due to the expansion of participating countries, as a positive factor.
"If my physical condition had been perfect, playing every 4 to 5 days would not have been a problem, but personally, I am relieved to have had more time to recover," Hwang said.
(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.