Mexico vs South Korea World Cup 2026: Time, TV Channel & Score Prediction

Mexico vs South Korea at the World Cup 2026 is the Matchday 2 showdown of Group A, and it kicks off on Thursday, June 18, 2026 at 9:00 PM ET (3:00 AM in Paris on Friday, June 19) at the Estadio Akron in Guadalajara. Two teams arriving with 3 points and an opening win go head-to-head for top spot in the group, broadcast in the USA on FOX and in Spanish on Telemundo. Here is the exact kickoff time in every zone, the channel list country by country, a full match preview and our score prediction.

Mexico vs South Korea kickoff time and how to watch

The match (Match 28 of the tournament, Group A, Matchday 2) is played at the Estadio Akron, renamed "Estadio Guadalajara" for the World Cup, in Zapopan in the Guadalajara metro area (Jalisco, Mexico), a roughly 48,000-seat venue that is home to Liga MX side Guadalajara (Chivas) — and the same ground where South Korea beat Czechia 2-1 on June 11. Here is the kickoff time wherever you are watching:

• USA (Eastern): 9:00 PM ET, Thursday, June 18, 2026
• USA (Pacific): 6:00 PM PT, Thursday, June 18, 2026
• Local time (Guadalajara, Jalisco): 7:00 PM CST
• Paris / Central Europe: 3:00 AM CEST, Friday, June 19, 2026

On television: in the USA, it's FOX in English (with streaming via FOX One and the Fox Sports app), plus Telemundo and Peacock in Spanish. In Canada, Bell Media holds all rights: TSN in English (select games on CTV/Crave) and RDS in French, with streaming on TSN+, the TSN App, the CTV App and RDS digital. In France, the 2026 rights are split between TF1 (select free-to-air matches) and beIN Sports (full coverage); given the 3:00 AM kickoff, beIN Sports is the realistic live option. Q4TV bundles FOX, Telemundo, TSN, CTV, RDS, beIN Sports and international feeds in one place, in 4K, so there's no juggling between subscriptions.

Match preview: Mexico at home against an ambitious South Korea

This one has the feel of an early final for top spot in Group A. Mexico, the home favourites, launched their tournament perfectly with a 2-0 win over South Africa — a clean sheet, 3 points and a +2 goal difference that puts them top of the group. A win here would all but secure first place and a favourable knockout seeding, roared on by the Guadalajara crowd. South Korea, the underdogs, beat Czechia 2-1 at this very stadium on June 11: 3 points, +1 goal difference, sitting second on goal difference behind Mexico.

Coach Javier Aguirre is likely to set up in a 4-1-4-1 / 4-3-3 built around Raul Jimenez up top, captain Edson Alvarez anchoring midfield, Santiago Gimenez and a back line led by Cesar Montes and Johan Vasquez. Opposite him, Hong Myung-bo leans on a 4-2-3-1 driven by captain and talisman Son Heung-min (56 international goals), supported by Lee Kang-in (PSG), Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich), Hwang In-beom and Oh Hyeon-gyu. History favours Mexico, who hold the edge at World Cups — most notably a 2-1 win over South Korea in the 2018 group stage.

"Two in-form sides, three points each, first place on the line — this is the kind of night that decides a tournament long before the knockouts."

Score prediction and expected goals

Mexico are home favourites (around -105 on the moneyline, South Korea near +320, the draw around +230), with prediction markets pricing Mexico near 50% to win against 26% for South Korea and 28% for the draw. Our read: Mexico win 2-1. They have home advantage, a clean sheet in the opener and the superior World Cup head-to-head, but South Korea's European-based attack (Son, Lee Kang-in) is too sharp to stay quiet — a scenario that would mirror Mexico's 2-1 result over Korea in 2018. With top spot at stake, expect a controlled game rather than an open shootout.

• Prediction: Mexico to win
• Most likely score: Mexico 2-1 South Korea (1-1 as the alternative)
• Expected goals: total goals line around 2.5, leaning slightly to over; a realistic 2-3 total

The most likely scorer for Mexico is Raul Jimenez, leading the line with Santiago Gimenez in support, while Son Heung-min is the number-one threat to find the net for South Korea.

Mexico's remaining Group A schedule

• Mexico 2-0 South Africa — Matchday 1 (already played, win)
• Mexico vs South Korea — Thursday, June 18, 2026, 9:00 PM ET, Estadio Akron (Guadalajara)
• Mexico vs final group opponent — Matchday 3, to seal qualification and final standing

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Mexico vs South Korea World Cup 2026 FAQ

What time and channel is Mexico vs South Korea?

The match kicks off on Thursday, June 18, 2026 at 9:00 PM ET (6:00 PM PT), which is 3:00 AM in Paris on Friday, June 19. It is shown on FOX and Telemundo in the USA, on TSN and RDS in Canada, and on beIN Sports in France.

Where is the match played?

At the Estadio Akron (renamed "Estadio Guadalajara" for the World Cup), in Zapopan in the Guadalajara metro area (Jalisco, Mexico), a roughly 48,000-seat venue where South Korea had already beaten Czechia 2-1 on June 11.

What is the score prediction?

We predict a 2-1 Mexico win — at home and with the better World Cup head-to-head — with the total goals close to the 2.5 line. Raul Jimenez is the most likely Mexican scorer, while Son Heung-min is South Korea's main threat.

How can I watch the match in 4K?

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