Our prediction for this World Cup 2026 match:
Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan will host Thursday’s World Cup game between Uruguay and South Korea, the two teams who met at the 2010 showpiece tournament in South Africa. Back then La Celeste defeated the Taegeuk Warriors 2-1, meaning that Paulo Bento’s troops are hungry for revenge. Valencia attacker Edinson Cavani faces the race against clock to be fit for the Group H opener, with Nacional striker Luis Suarez being ready to step up.
The Koreans, on the other hand, defeated Iceland thanks to Song Min-Kyu’s goal in their last warm-up game, but they will have a much bigger fish to fry against the South American side. Since Tottenham Hotspur ace Heung-min Son has been struggling with a facial injury of late, we are tempted to put our money on Diego Alonso’s troops. When the two teams met in a friendly four years ago South Korea defeated Uruguay, but home win should be considered this time out.s
Highlighted Player (Luis Suarez):
Luis Suarez is a controversial footballer who plays for La Liga side Barcelona as a striker. The Uruguayan forward moved to Europe in 2006, signing a deal with Groningen. After scoring 10 goals in 27 league appearances for the club in the 2006/2007 Eredivisie campaign, he joined Ajax at the end of the season. The prolific striker scored no less than 81 goals in 110 appearances for Ajax and, as a result, Liverpool chiefs decided to sign him on 31 January 2011.
Suarez became the club’s most expensive signing and he was producing thrilling performances with the Anfield outfit between 2011 and 2014. Liverpool were on the verge of winning the 2013/2014 Premier League trophy, but Steven Gerrard slipped in the decider against Chelsea and they eventually finished the season in second place in the standings.
In 2014 Suarez joined Barcelona and he was the top scorer in the 2015/2016 La Liga campaign. He won the 2013/2014 Premier League Golden Boot as well and in 2011 he clinched the Copa America trophy with Uruguay.
Highlighted Team (South Korea):
Over the years South Korea have established themselves as one the best Asian national football teams. Back in 1954 the Reds qualified for the FIFA World Cup finals for the first time ever, but then they missed the next seven major tournaments (1958 Sweden, 1962 Chile, 1966 England, 1970 Mexico, 1974 Germany, Argentina 1978 and 1982 Spain).
South Korea then qualified for the 1986 FIFA World Cup finals, but they failed to make it to the knockout stages of the prestigious tournament. The Koreans recorded their best result at the World Cup finals in 2002, when they co-hosted the showpiece tournament with Japan. By beating Italy and Spain in the knockout stages South Korea set up a meeting with Germany in the semis, but they failed to claim yet another major scalp.
To make things even worse for the hosts, Guus Hiddink’s troops were beaten by Turkey (2-3) in the third-place play-off. South Korea footballers wear red shirts, blue shorts and red socks when playing at home, whilst the colour of their away kit is white.