South Korea's World Cup Knockout Hopes Hinge on Final Group Match After Mexico Loss

ZAPOPAN, Mexico, June 18 (Yonhap) -- South 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, South 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 South Korean miscue in the 50th minute for the narrow victory that gave them six points.

South 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 South Korea beat South Africa and Mexico lose to Czechia in their finales, then South Korea and Mexico will both finish with six points. However, Mexico will own the tiebreak edge thanks to Thursday's win and will leave South Korea in second place -- good enough for automatic qualification for the knockouts.

With the tournament now featuring 48 nations, up from 32, the top two teams from each of the 12 groups will progress to the knockouts, along with eight best third-place teams.

South Korea will still be the runner-up in Group A if they play South Africa to a draw. In that case, South Korea will finish with four points. Czechia may also finish with four points by upsetting Mexico, but South Korea will have the tiebreak advantage after beating Czechia last week.

South Korea can still sneak into the knockouts as a third-ranked team even if they lose to South Africa.

A South Korea loss and a Mexico win or a draw will put South Korea in third place with three points.

In the worst possible scenario for the Taegeuk Warriors, South Korea will be eliminated as the last-ranked team in Group A if they lose to South Africa and Czechia defeat Mexico next week.

If South Korea finish as the Group A runner-up, they will face the runner-up from Group B in the round of 32. After two matches, Canada lead Group B, followed by Switzerland, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Qatar.

If South Korea qualify as the No. 3 seed out of Group B, they will play either the Group E winner or the Group G winner.

Germany are favored to win Group E, but the picture is a little murkier in Group G where Belgium, Egypt, Iran and New Zealand all have one point after their first matches.

South Korea, 25th in the last official FIFA rankings before the World Cup, will enter the finale as the heavy favorite over 60th-ranked South Africa.

The African side will also be shorthanded. Midfielder Teboho Mokoena, who scored a penalty against Czechia, will not be eligible against South Korea after picking up his second yellow card in two matches. Another midfielder, Themba Zwane, received a three-match ban from FIFA after getting sent off during the 2-0 loss to Mexico last week.