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WORLD CUP 2026 · Friday, 19 June 2026 at 02:00 BST
Mexico
1 – 0
South Korea

Match preview

Mexico enter as clear favourites on home soil, with the model giving them a 62% chance of victory.

62%
Mexico
17%
Draw
21%
South Korea
Model fair odds
Mexico
1.61
Draw
5.88
South Korea
4.76

Decimal fair odds from the model probabilities before bookmaker margin.

Mexico
62%
Draw
17%
South Korea
21%
Elo rating: 1930 vs 1793 (+137)
Recent form: WWWWW vs LLWWW
Host advantage: Yes — Mexico at home
Model verdict: 62% / 17% / 21%
Most likely scores
Mexico 1–0 (14%)
Mexico 2–0 (14%)
Draw 1–1 (10%)
Mexico 2–1 (9%)
Why Mexico are favourites (62%)
  • Mexico carry the higher Elo rating (+137 points)
  • Host-nation advantage — Mexico playing at home
  • Mexico unbeaten and winning in their last five (5W)
  • South Korea won 3 of their last five (3W 2L)
  • Head-to-head treated as neutral — too few recent meetings to weigh (10% of the blend)

These factors combine to produce the 62% / 17% / 21% verdict above.

Expected match pattern

Mexico are expected to control possession and territory, while South Korea will likely rely on defensive organisation and counter-attacks. An early Mexico goal would force South Korea to open up, raising the chance of a multi-goal result; the longer it stays level, the more pressure shifts onto the favourites.

Expected goals: Mexico 1.9 · South Korea 0.7

Quick stats

MetricMexicoSouth Korea
Elo rating19301793
Last 5 record5W3W 2L
Goals last 5138
Goals conceded last 513
Clean sheets last 542

Mexico — last 5

  • Wv Ecuador20
  • W@ Czechia30
  • Wv South Korea10
  • Wv South Africa20
  • Wv Serbia51

South Korea — last 5

  • L@ South Africa01
  • L@ Mexico01
  • Wv Czechia21
  • Wv El Salvador10
  • Wv Trinidad and Tobago50

Head to head

19 Jun 2026
Mexico
10
South Korea
10 Sept 2025
Mexico
22
South Korea
14 Nov 2020
Mexico
32
South Korea
23 Jun 2018
South Korea
12
Mexico

Confirmed lineups

Mexico · 4-3-3
  1. 1R. Rangel G
  2. 2J. Sanchez D
  3. 4E. Alvarez D
  4. 5J. Vasquez D
  5. 23J. Gallardo D
  6. 26B. Gutierrez M
  7. 6E. Lira M
  8. 7L. Romo M
  9. 25R. Alvarado F
  10. 9R. Jimenez F
  11. 16J. Quinones F
South Korea · 3-4-2-1
  1. 1Kim Seung-Gyu G
  2. 2Lee Han-Beom D
  3. 4Kim Min-Jae D
  4. 3Lee Gi-Hyuk D
  5. 15Kim Moon-Hwan M
  6. 6Hwang In-Beom M
  7. 8Paik Seung-Ho M
  8. 22Seol Young-Woo M
  9. 19Lee Kang-In F
  10. 10Lee Jae-Sung F
  11. 7Son Heung-Min F

Key matchups

R. Alvarado vs Kim Min-Jae

Mexico's focal point in attack against the heart of South Korea's defence.

E. Lira vs Hwang In-Beom

The central-midfield battle most likely to decide who controls possession and territory.

Lee Kang-In vs E. Alvarez

South Korea's main outlet — how Mexico's central defence handles him shapes the counter-attack threat.

Predictions are model output, not betting advice. The model blends an Elo rating, last-5 form and host advantage; ratings update after every tournament result, and fair odds and likely scorelines are derived from the same blend. Bet responsibly — 18+. See PuntHub for verified tipster services.