Mexico vs. South Korea Lineups Confirmed for World Cup 2026 – Starting XIs

The Mexico vs. South Korea lineups are officially confirmed for today’s 2026 World Cup match in Group A at Guadalajara Stadium in Guadalajara — a massive spot for Mexico as a co-host nation, and these teams are expected to top the group. 

Both teams enter their group stage Matchday 2 with three points secured after winning their World Cup openers. A win for either team would clinch the No. 1 spot in the group, while the loser will be fighting for a spot in the knockout stage.

Mexico is without suspended center back César Montes, who started the opener vs. South Africa. That gives manager Javier Aguirre a defensive reshuffle in the XI for Mexico’s most important match of the group stage.

Below are the official Mexico vs. South Korea lineups for today’s World Cup match, set to start at 9 p.m. ET on FS1.

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Confirmed Mexico Lineup vs. South Korea for World Cup 2026

Formation: 4-1-4-1

• Goalkeeper: Raúl Rangel
• Defenders: Israel Reyes, Edson Álvarez (c), Johan Vásquez, Jesús Gallardo
• Midfielders: Erik Lira (CDM) Roberto Alvarado, Gilberto Mora, Álvaro Fidalgo, Julián Quiñones
• Forward: Raúl Jiménez

Mexico subs vs. South Korea: Carlos Acevedo, Guillermo Ochoa, Israel Reyes, Mateo Chávez, Álvaro Fidalgo, Gilberto Mora, Luis Chávez, Obed Vargas, Orbelín Pineda, Alexis Vega, Armando González, César Huerta, Guillermo Martínez, Santiago Giménez

Mexico Players to Watch vs. South Korea

Data via FIFA Match Report Hub.

• Julián Quiñones: Scored in the 9th minute vs. South Africa; had 5 shot attempts, made a team-high 54 offers to receive, and completed 12-of-12 line-break attempts.
• Raúl Jiménez: Scored Mexico’s second goal on a header from a cross and had 4 total shot attempts in the opener.
• Álvaro Fidalgo: Had 6 ball progressions vs. South Africa, tied for the most on Mexico, and should be key if South Korea’s midfield sits compact.
• Jesús Gallardo: Led Mexico with 8 possession regains vs. South Africa from left back.

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Confirmed South Korea Lineup vs. Mexico for World Cup 2026

Formation: 3-4-2-1

• Goalkeeper: Kim Seung-gyu
• Defenders: Lee Han-beom, Kim Min-jae, Lee Gi-hyuk
• Midfielders: Kim Moon-hwan, Hwang In-beom, Paik Seung-ho, Seol Young-woo
• Striker: Son Heung-min (c)

South Korea subs vs. Mexico: Song Bum-keun, Jo Hyeon-woo, Kim Tae-hyeon, Cho Wi-je, Lee Dong-gyeong, Jens Castrop, Kim Jin-gyu, Park Jin-seob, Bae Jun-ho, Lee Tae-seok, Cho Gue-sung, Hwang Hee-chan, Oh Hyun-gyu, Yang Hyun-jun, Eom Ji-sung

South Korea Players to Watch vs. Mexico

Data via FIFA Match Report Hub.

• Son Heung-min: Led South Korea with 6 shot attempts vs. Czechia and posted a 35.2 km/h top speed — the fastest mark in the match.
• Hwang In-beom: Scored South Korea’s go-ahead goal, attempted 79 passes, and completed 11 line breaks vs. Czechia.
• Lee Kang-in: Completed all 38 passes, went 11-for-11 on line breaks, and had 8 ball progressions in the opener.
• Paik Seung-ho: Led South Korea with 50 offers to receive and 30 offers received, making him the key connector in midfield.

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What Mexico vs. South Korea Starting Lineups Mean for World Cup Predictions

Mexico will go with a 4-1-4-1 shape against South Korea, but the biggest change is forced: César Montes is suspended, which means Edson Álvarez starts at center back — and takes the captain armband — next to Johan Vásquez.

That matters for Mexico’s buildup. Montes attempted 17 line breaks and completed 12 vs. South Africa, while Vásquez completed 13-of-16. 

Mexico was easily progressing through South Africa’s back line in Matchday 1, finishing with 105 completed line breaks in the final third. While it may takeaway some of that upside playing form the back, it may have less effect against a more dangerous South Korean side, as opposed to South Africa’s middling offense.

Mexico also made midfield changes, with Luis Romo and Brian Gutiérrez starting while Álvaro Fidalgo and Gilberto Mora begin on the bench. Gutiérrez gives Mexico more direct shot volume — he had 4 attempts vs. South Africa — while Romo should help stabilize the midfield behind Jiménez, Quiñones, and Alvarado.

Mexico scored its second goal vs. South Africa on a cross to Jiménez, and this lineup gives him service from both sides through Gallardo, Sánchez, Alvarado, and Quiñones. If South Korea’s back three sits deep, Mexico may again lean on wide progression and balls into the box.

South Korea brings a much different test than South Africa did. They’ll line up in a 3-4-2-1 with Son Heung-min as the central forward.

Lee Kang-in was nearly perfect as a connector, while Son took 6 of South Korea’s 15 shots. That’s the main Mexico problem: if Son gets clean touches facing goal, South Korea can turn controlled possession into shot volume fast.

For PrizePicks WC picks today, for the players that could be worth targeting, Quiñones lads the way as Mexico’s most involved wide attacker, with a discount promo on his shots.

Elsewhere: Jiménez as the box target if Mexico keeps crossing; Gutiérrez for shot volume in his start; Lee Kang-in for passing and chance creation; and Son for shot volume in South Korea’s 3-4-2-1, with Mexico missing a starting CB.

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Make Mexico vs. South Korea World Cup Predictions on PrizePicks

Mexico faces South Korea in a Group A match where both teams can take control of the group with a win.

Mexico has the home-field edge and the cleaner opening match, but South Korea brings more attacking quality than South Africa did — especially with Son, Lee Kang-in, and Hwang In-beom all starting.

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Now that the Mexico vs. South Korea lineups are confirmed, it’s time to lock in your World Cup picks. On PrizePicks, you can select your players, choose More or Less on their stats, and cash in if you’re right.