The match korea vs czechia in Guadalajara produced a late comeback as South Korea beat Czechia 2-1 after a substitute finished a decisive move.
Czechia took the lead from a set piece when an incredible throw in found Krejci, who headed the ball in, and South Korea equalized when Lee Kang-in threaded a pass to Hwang In-beom who chipped a finish into the corner.
South Korea completed the turnaround when substitute Oh, who had come on for Son, finished off a Hwang In-beom cross after a Paik through ball set up the move.
The match included several notable moments, including a disallowed Tomáš Souček header from a free kick and a remarkable double save by Czech goalkeeper Kovar to deny Hwang In-beom and Lee Jae-sung.
Match statistics showed South Korea edging possession with 55 percent to Czechia's 45 percent, expected goals of 0.52 to 0.29, and one shot on target for South Korea while Czechia registered none.
Attendance And Ticket Price Debate Cast Shadow Over Opening Day
While Mexico drew a boisterous crowd at Azteca Stadium for a 2-0 victory over South Africa, Guadalajara's nearly 46,000-seater stadium displayed visible empty seats despite an official attendance of 44,985.
Fans have raised concerns about ticket prices along with accommodation and travel costs inside and between the three host nations, and visa access to the US has also drawn scrutiny.
An NBC News analysis reported hotels and tickets were widely available for early matches, but attending some games could cost roughly the same as a month of rent in Chicago for an average US fan.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended ticket pricing, saying FIFA had sold more than 6 million tickets and that demand had exceeded expectations by "a factor of 10 or more," adding that a $60 entry price was the lowest among American sports in playoff phases, as he stated.
Supporter groups and officials have challenged that position, with Football Supporters Europe filing a complaint with the European Commission accusing FIFA of imposing "sky-high" prices and saying the $60 tickets "barely existed."
Authorities in New York and New Jersey issued a subpoena to FIFA over ticketing practices, citing media reports that fans may have been misled about seat locations and that FIFA statements and ticket releases may have contributed to soaring prices.
Even President Donald Trump weighed in by blasting high World Cup ticket prices in an interview with the New York Post, adding to public scrutiny of the tournament's marketing and pricing strategy.
