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    Why is 2026 World Cup final in New Jersey, not Mexico's iconic Estadio Azteca?

    The final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup will not be played at Mexico's iconic Estadio Azteca — widely regarded as one of football's greatest venues— but at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, just outside New York City. At first glance, it seems like a surprising choice. Azteca has already hosted two World Cup finals. It witnessed Pelé lifting the trophy and Diego Maradona's legendary "Hand of God" goal, making it a living monument to World Cup history. It is also one of international football's most intimidating venues. Mexico has held 90 home internationals there, compiling a remarkable record of 70 wins, 17 draws and just three defeats. So why did FIFA choose MetLife Stadium instead? The choice of venue for a World Cup final is never based simply on who has the biggest stadium. It represents the face a host nation wants to present to the world — a space that encapsulates the message it hopes to deliver. Where the final is held often reveals what each World Cup values most. Brazil staged two World Cup finals (1950 and 2014) at the Maracanã, a stadium that embodies both

    3 MIN READBy Hankookilbo
    Why is 2026 World Cup final in New Jersey, not Mexico's iconic Estadio Azteca?
  • Sports

    Inside Korea's fiercest football derbies: Local rivalries fuel K League's passion

    6 MIN READBy Lee Hae-rin
    Inside Korea's fiercest football derbies: Local rivalries fuel K League's passion
  • Sports

    Defending champion Argentina reaches World Cup final by beating England 2-1

    2 MIN READBy AP
    Defending champion Argentina reaches World Cup final by beating England 2-1
  • Sports

    Son Heung-min returns to LAFC with big smile on his face

    2 MIN READBy Xportsnews
    Son Heung-min returns to LAFC with big smile on his face
  • Sports

    World Taekwondo sends federation flag into orbit ahead of 2027 world championships

    2 MIN READBy Jhoo Dong-chan
    World Taekwondo sends federation flag into orbit ahead of 2027 world championships
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Sports

Fans' swelling cheer for national football team continue despite heat, defeat

Korea’s first heat wave of the season did little to cool the nation’s football fever Friday, as tens of thousands of fans in red shirts flooded central Seoul to cheer on the national team in its World Cup group match against Mexico — even as the team fell to defeat. By 11 a.m., midway through the lunchtime kickoff, an estimated 18,000 supporters had packed Gwanghwamun Square, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Government, transforming the stone plaza and surrounding streets into a sea of red. Fans in official jerseys and red T-shirts shielded themselves from the blistering sun with handheld fans, wide-brimmed hats, sun umbrellas and cooling patches, chanting “Dae-han-min-guk” under a relentless 32-degree Celsius sun. “I sneaked out from work just in time for the match,” said Kim Seung-hyun, an office worker from a nearby building, his company ID still hanging around his neck. “People say this World Cup isn’t getting much attention because of controversies surrounding coach Hong Myung-bo and the football association, but when you see this many people out here on a hot w

Jun 19, 2026By Lee Hae-rin
Fans' swelling cheer for national football team continue despite heat, defeat
Sports

Korea in good position to reach knockouts despite loss to Mexico

ZAPOPAN, Mexico — Korea will not win Group A of the ongoing FIFA World Cup following a 1-0 loss to co-host Mexico on Thursday, but with one group match remaining, there are still multiple pathways for the Taegeuk Warriors to reach the knockout phase. By beating the home side Mexico at Estadio Guadalajara in Zapopan, Korea would have clinched the top spot in their group and become the first team at this year's tournament to book a spot in the knockouts. But Mexico had other ideas, with Luis Romo capitalizing on a Korean miscue in the 50th minute for the narrow victory that gave them six points. Korea, who began the competition with a 2-1 win over Czechia last week, are in second place with three points. Czechia had a 1-1 draw against South Africa to pick up their first point. South Africa also have one point but trail Czechia on goal difference. The head-to-head record between the tied teams is the first tiebreaker, followed by the goal difference. If Korea beat South Africa and Mexico lose to Czechia in their finales, then Korea and Mexico will both finish with six points. However, Mex

Jun 19, 2026By Yonhap
Korea in good position to reach knockouts despite loss to Mexico
Sports

Korean goalkeeper shoulders blame for costly miscue

ZAPOPAN, Mexico — Korean goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu pointed a finger at himself for a miscue that cost his team in a 1-0 loss to Mexico in Group A action at the FIFA World Cup on Thursday. The match's lone goal, scored by Luis Romo in the 50th minute at Estadio Guadalajara in Zapopan, came off a preventable misplay inside the Korean box. Kim jumped to grab an innocuous header by Raul Jimenez but then crashed into the back of his own defender Lee Gi-hyuk on his way down. The ball was poked loose toward Romo, who scored easily into the empty net. It was the lone blemish in what was an otherwise strong match for Kim, who made a couple of big saves to keep the final score tight. "This is the life of a goalkeeper. You can play well, but you will ultimately be judged by the one you give up," Kim said. "I should have focused better in that situation. When the ball went up in the air, I figured I would only have my teammates around me. I tried to play it safe, but things went wrong there." As for how he communicated with Lee on the play, Kim said: "You have to be really quick in those situations.

Jun 19, 2026By Yonhap
Korean goalkeeper shoulders blame for costly miscue
Sports

North Korea accused of illegally broadcasting 2026 FIFA World Cup matches

North Korea is facing renewed allegations that its state-run Korean Central Television (KCTV) aired 2026 FIFA World Cup matches without securing broadcast rights. Media outlet Alerta Mundial's account on X, formerly Twitter, said Wednesday that footage from the broadcast appeared to show country names with North Korean spelling, including Ivory Coast, Sweden and Tunisia. The video included a caption identifying the game as a World Cup group-stage match. The account said KCTV appears to be using foreign satellite feeds from neighboring countries such as China because Pyongyang lacks official permission from FIFA, football's governing body. The broadcasts could raise copyright infringement concerns if KCTV aired the matches without permission from rights holders. North Korea has a history of similar controversies, facing accusations of unauthorized broadcasts during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and UEFA Champions League matches. In July 2023, FIFA issued warnings after confirming unauthorized broadcasts of the Women's World Cup inside North Korea. The current allegations follow the breakdow

Jun 19, 2026By Hankookilbo
North Korea accused of illegally broadcasting 2026 FIFA World Cup matches
Sports

Korea coach implores players to hold heads high after loss to Mexico

ZAPOPAN, Mexico — Korea head coach Hong Myung-bo praised his players for their effort following a 1-0 loss to Mexico on Thursday at the FIFA World Cup, saying they now need to shift their focus to their final group stage match instead of dwelling on the defeat. Korea looked to be in control of the match but conceded the match's lone goal five minutes after the restart at Estadio Guadalajara in Zapopan, western Mexico. Goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu came off his line to grab a header by Raul Jimenez in the air but then crashed into the back of his own defender, Lee Gi-hyuk, on the way down. Luis Romo was in the right spot at the right time for El Tri, as he slotted home the ball that had spilled loose. "The result is quite disappointing but the players executed their plans well overall," Hong said. "It's a shame we conceded the goal the way we did but the players gave their best effort." Hong said he hadn't yet spoken to the team about the fateful play and he speculated that Kim and Lee had a communication breakdown. "We expected Mexico to come out firing from the get-go and I reminded our pl

Jun 19, 2026By Yonhap
Korea coach implores players to hold heads high after loss to Mexico
Sports

Unlucky Korea lack precision in loss to Mexico

Korea's 1-0 loss to Mexico in their Group A showdown at the FIFA World Cup on Thursday came on a combination of their lack of precision and a stroke of bad luck. The Taegeuk Warriors didn't quite have the clinical touch to finish off their opportunities in the frustrating loss at Estadio Guadalajara in Zapopan, western Mexico, while they gifted a goal to the home side in a preventable miscue. The teams didn't score in a careful first half, though Korea made their intent clear. They wanted to hold on to the ball and bide their time trying to find space behind the defense, not to be deterred by groans and whistles from a restless, partisan Mexican crowd in the stands. Some active off-the-ball movements gave Korea some dangerous looks but their timing was just a tiny bit off — leading to four offside violations in the first half alone. One such call came on captain Son Heung-min's opportunity in the 16th minute, when he went one-on-one goalkeeper Raul Rangel and floated a shot into what was momentarily an empty net. Defender Edson Alvarez somehow kept it out with an acrobatic overhead cle

Jun 19, 2026By Yonhap
Unlucky Korea lack precision in loss to Mexico
Sports

Toothless Team Korea falls to Mexico

Korea’s hopes of reaching the knockout stages of the 2026 World Cup are still up in the air after a 1-0 loss to Mexico in Guadalajara on Thursday (local time). A second half goalkeeping error from Kim Seung-gyu handed the hosts the goal, the three points and an early place in the Round of 32. Korea meanwhile still has to face South Africa next week, needing a point to be sure of advancing but no longer able to finish in first place in Group A. Ultimately it was a frustrating performance from Hong Myung-bo’s team, who impressed when beating the Czech Republic 2-1 last week. Kim’s error will be the talking point but, at the opposite end of the field, Korea failed to trouble the Mexican defense until the final moments of the game. The first task of any team playing in front of a hostile crowd is to take the sting out of the atmosphere and that is what Korea did in the first half. The Asian team controlled much of the match, setting the tempo, even if there was little action in the penalty area for fans watching back home to get excited about. Mexico, who went closest with a Julian Qui

Jun 19, 2026By John Duerden
Toothless Team Korea falls to Mexico
Sports

Korea fall to Mexico for 1st loss in Group A

ZAPOPAN, Mexico — Korea fell to co-host Mexico 1-0 on Thursday for their first loss in Group A at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, unable to clinch a knockout berth early. Luis Romo scored the lone goal for El Tri in the 50th minute before a delighted home crowd at Estadio Guadalajara in Zapopan, western Mexico. Korea, after beating Czechia 2-1 to begin the competition last week, remained at three points and now sit in second place behind Mexico, who improved to six points to win Group A with one match to spare. Czechia and South Africa, who played to a 1-1 draw earlier Thursday, are each at one point, with Czechia occupying third place thanks to their superior goal difference. Korea will close out the group stage against South Africa next Wednesday in Monterrey, northeastern Mexico, while Mexico will do so against Czechia on the same day in Mexico City. With the tournament having expanded to 48 nations, the top two teams from each of the 12 groups will progress to the round of 32, joined by the eight best third-place teams. Korea will qualify for the knockouts and finish second in Group A by be

Jun 19, 2026By Yonhap
Korea fall to Mexico for 1st loss in Group A
Sports

Mexico defeats Korea 1-0 in World Cup Group A match

Mexico's midfielder Luis Romo, second from left, shoots and scores his team's first goal during the 2026 World Cup Group A football match between Mexico and Korea at the Guadalajara Stadium in Zapopan, Thursday (local time). AFP-Yonhap

Jun 19, 2026By Kwak Yeon-soo
Mexico defeats Korea 1-0 in World Cup Group A match
Sports

Luis Romo scores for Mexico vs. Korea

Mexico's midfielder Luis Romo, left, and Korea's midfielder Lee Jae-sung fight for the ball during the 2026 World Cup Group A football match between Mexico and South Korea at the Guadalajara Stadium in Zapopan, Thursday (local time). AFP-Yonhap

Jun 19, 2026By Kwak Yeon-soo
Luis Romo scores for Mexico vs. Korea
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