South Korea have not won a World Cup opening match since 2010 and failed to secure a victory in the first game at each of the last three tournaments, according to the report.
The run has had consequences. In 2014 the Koreans finished bottom of their group with a solitary point, the report notes. Four years later defeats to Sweden and Mexico left South Korea unable to capitalise on a 2-0 victory over Germany, and they again exited at the group stage.
At Qatar 2022 South Korea drew and then lost their two opening matches but still reached the round of 16 after a 91st-minute counterattack winner over Portugal. The decisive play began with captain Son Heung-Min’s long charge and ended with Hwang Hee-chan’s finish, according to the report.
Winning an opener has often helped South Korea advance. Their run to fourth place in 2002 began with a win over Poland, and they also started successfully in 2010 en route to the last 16. An exception came in 2006: a victory over Togo and a draw with France were followed by a final-day loss to Switzerland that left them eliminated by a single point, the report says.
The expansion of the World Cup to 48 teams means eight third-placed sides will progress to a round of 32, offering more margin for error. Drawn in Group A, South Korea face Mexico, Czechia and South Africa; Mexico are listed as the highest-ranked team in the group at 14th, South Korea 25th, Czechia 40th and South Africa 60th. The group’s average ranking of 34.75 is the fifth-lowest among the 12 groups, suggesting a relatively balanced pool, according to the report.
