Key events
One round of matches, 24 games, mountains of data. Enjoy the choicest nuggets here, including:
Catch up on all yesterday’s action with Max and the gang in audio-visual format.
The match currently in play is one-way traffic in favour of the tournament hosts against a Qatar side now down to nine men. But the result risks being overshadowed by a horror injury to Canada midfielder Ismael Kone.
In Group B Switzerland took a giant step towards the knockout phase with a 4-1 triumph over Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The hype around Johan Manzambi will only heighten after his star turn from the substitutes’ bench helped Switzerland out of a hole and got their tournament truly up and running. The 20-year-old managed to excel for Freiburg in their comprehensive Europa League final defeat against Aston Villa last month and, with 73 minutes played here and three minutes after entering as part of a triple substitution, his superb volley put an end to a sterile contest, hooking a right-foot shot into the Bosnia and Herzegovina net.
Mexico and South Korea would have been delighted with the Group A result earlier in the day with South Africa holding Czechia to a 1-1 draw courtesy of a late penalty.
The decision to award the spot-kick was a clear demonstration the modern handball law is not fit for purpose.
That neither of them got it means both can still go through. A win over South Korea would mean South Africa progress, although a second yellow card means Mokoena will miss the game. A win for Czechia against Mexico would see them through too. Whether either are capable is a different matter.
Preamble
Jonathan Howcroft
Hello everybody and welcome to live coverage of match 28 of the 2026 World Cup between Mexico and South Korea. Kick-off in this Group A clash at the Estadio Guadalajara is 7pm local time (9pm EDT/2am BST/11am AEST).
With the first round of fixtures completed, contests containing immediate jeopardy are now upon us. If there is a winner at Estadio Akron that nation will top Group A and take on a third-place side in the round of 32. The loser will still be well placed to progress, but they will face nervy moments in their final group matches.
El Tri did what was required of them on the opening day against South Africa. The Tageuk Warriors showed fortitude in defence and quick feet in attack against Czechia. Both will have to raise their games to earn a positive result this evening.
This pair played out a 2-2 draw as recently as September last year, a game Mexico dominated for large parts but required a stoppage time strike from Santiago Giménez to share the spoils.
This will be the third time these countries have met in the group phase of a World Cup with Mexico proving victorious in both 1998 and 2018.
I’ll be back shortly with team news and a roundup of all the matchday action so far. In the meantime you can keep an eye on Canada v Qatar and email any thoughts about the World Cup to jonathan.howcroft.freelance@theguardian.com.
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