World Cup live updates: Socceroos drop major news ahead of opener

Thanks for joining us on what was a fast and furious start to this new super-sized World Cup.

Co-hosts Mexico kicked us off with a 2-0 win over South Africa in a match that featured three red cards at a pumping Estadio Azteca.

South Korea then came from behind to stun Czechia 2-1 in the second game.

Join us tomorrow from 5am AEST as we bring you all the big news from day two.

And check out all the big talking points on Stan Sport’s Added Time each day.

There will again be two games with co-hosts Canada playing Bosnia and Herzegovina before the big one - the United States vs Paraguay as Aussie fans get their first look at the Socceroos’ Group D opponents.

Over and out!

Socceroos coach Tony Popovic has inked a contract extension on the eve of the team’s World Cup opener.

Popovic will now lead Australia through until at least the 2027 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia in January-February.

The former Socceroos defender has coached Australia since 2024 and has a healthy record of 10 wins, four draws and four losses.

Popovic’s side kick off their World Cup campaign against Turkiye on Sunday (AEST).

“My absolute focus right now is on the FIFA World Cup 2026. I’m proud to lead my country into a World Cup, but most importantly, I want to ensure that our team is fully prepared and focused on our group matches against Turkiye, the United States, and Paraguay,” Popovic said.

“From the moment I took over, I have tried to factor in the long-term interests of the Socceroos while ensuring that we achieve the short-term results, which in the first instance was qualifying for the FIFA World Cup 2026.”

Czechia coach Miroslav Koubek was gracious in his post-match comments after watching his side slump to a heartbreaking 2-1 loss in their World Cup opener against South Korea today.

Ladislav Krejci gave Czechia a 1-0 lead in the second half and after Hwang In-beom’s cracking equaliser, the Czechs thought they had retaken the lead with another set piece in the 77th minute.

But Tomas Soucek was ruled offside on his header as Oh Hyeon-gyu then delivered Korea the winner three minutes later.

“Probably the better team won,” Koubek admitted, while rueing “some mistakes.”

“We played very well, it could have been a draw and we could have won as well.”

Need a World Cup crash course to impress your mates at the pub this weekend?

Check out the latest news on all 48 squads here as Australia’s Group D opponents sweat on the fitness of key attacking threat Julio Enciso.

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Ex-Socceroos captain Craig Foster believes Australia will defy the bookmakers and advance to the round-of-32 at the World Cup.

The Socceroos, ranked 27th in the world, are rated by sports gambling websites as the most likely team to finish bottom of a Group D that also includes the United States, Turkiye and Paraguay.

Australia kick off their tournament against 23rd-ranked Turkiye in Vancouver on Sunday (AEST).

“The problem with the group is it’s all really balanced,” Foster told Nine’s TODAY.

“They think they can beat us, we generally think that we can beat all of the teams in the group. It’s actually the most balanced group in the World Cup, so really tough, but everything is possible.

“I do believe very strongly that we’ll get out of the group, but the first game is really important. They’re high quality.”

Korea has scored a miraculous comeback win over Czechia, with goalkeeper Seung-Gyu Kim the man of the moment making two late saves to secure the win.

There was controversy in the second half when Czechia’s Tomas Soucek was denied a go-ahead goal by the offside flag.

Czechia players protested but the referee made the call on the field and there was no need to go to VAR.

Moments later Oh Hyeon-gyu completed Korea’s turnaround from close range after a low cross was fired in from the right flank, and his shot bounced off the goalkeeper and into the net.

Just minutes after Czechia had a goal denied by offside, Korea take the lead.

Hyeon Gyu scores in the 80th minute to give them a 2-1 cushion.

Goalkeeper Kim Seung-Gyu came up huge not long after with a wonderful save as Czechia chased an equaliser.

South Korea hit back quickly!

A fantastic piece of work from Hwang In beom, who gets inside the box, jinks to fool the defender and then chips over the goalkeeper to score.

Scores tied with about 25 minutes left.

The deadlock is broken!

And despite South Korea dominating so far, it is Czechia who scores first.

Ladislav Krejci leaps up to header the ball past the ’keeper.

Fans and pundits are fuming over these “hydration breaks”, which are happening midway through every half of every game.

In reality they have been dreamt up by FIFA and broadcasters as a scheme to wedge more commercials into the coverage.

Every single game during the World Cup will have them, regardless of weather.

It’s only about 24 degrees in this current game... bizarre.