Mexico have faced South Korea three times at the FIFA World Cup and walked away with three wins. Each game had a different feel, yet a familiar outcome. The shot maps and team numbers tell the same story across eras. Mexico found ways to create better chances and convert at the right moments, while South Korea ran into green-shirt walls and a bit of superior efficiency. Using Sofascore match pages as our guide, here is how 1998, 2018 and 2026 unfolded and why the trend still holds.

1998 World Cup: Mexico 3-1 South Korea

This one in Lyon was open, fast and tilted toward Mexico once they settled after Seok‑ju Ha’s opener on 28 minutes. Ricardo Peláez leveled on 51 minutes, then Luis Hernández took over late. He struck on 74 and 84 minutes to flip the match and set the tone for this World Cup head-to-head. The game had chances, and Mexico’s attackers kept appearing between defenders, which the shot map underlines.

The team numbers back up the eye test. Mexico had 58 percent possession, produced four big chances and took 25 shots compared with South Korea’s seven, forcing six saves from the Korean keeper and only one from Mexico’s. Corners were 7-2 to Mexico, and their 505 completed passes outpaced South Korea’s 373. Luis Hernández was the Player of the Match with a Sofascore Rating of 8.7. He scored twice, fired seven shots and supplied two key passes, a perfect line for a striker who dominated the final half hour. The overall team Sofascore Rating for this edition sits at 7.40, reflecting a confident, chance-rich display.

2018 World Cup: Mexico 2-1 South Korea

Two decades later in Rostov, Mexico built another deserved victory, this time through control and well-timed breaks. Carlos Vela converted a 26th-minute penalty, and Javier Hernández finished a classic transition at 66 minutes. Son Heung‑min struck a late consolation in stoppage time. The attack momentum chart shows Mexico absorbing pressure but carrying the greater threat whenever they advanced.

South Korea actually outshot Mexico 16-13, yet the quality split favored El Tri. Mexico created three big chances to South Korea’s zero and kept the ball at 58 percent possession. Both goalkeepers made three saves, but Mexico were tidier with the ball, completing 458 passes to 332. Set plays were fairly even, corners 7-5 to South Korea, but the fouls tell a story of Mexico drawing contact and progressing, with Korea whistled 24 times to Mexico’s seven. Carlos Vela was Player of the Match with a Sofascore Rating of 8.0. He scored once, created one big chance, delivered three key passes and won 8 of 13 duels, a balanced all-around outing. Mexico’s team Sofascore Rating for this game checks in at 7.16, a solid number mirroring their control of the key moments.

2026 World Cup: Mexico 1-0 South Korea

The 2026 chapter was tighter and more tactical, with Mexico embracing a more compact shape. Luis Romo delivered the decisive goal on 50 minutes, a finish that rewarded one of Mexico’s cleaner central moves. South Korea carried the ball longer and pushed more men forward in the second half, but the green shirts protected the box and cleared second balls well. It looked like a game of margins, and Mexico managed the key margin.

That feel is visible in the data. South Korea led possession 58-42 and edged expected goals 0.91 to 0.53. They also had three big chances to Mexico’s two, plus slight leads in total shots 9-8, tackles 17-14 and corners 2-0. Mexico’s defensive unit and goalkeeper met those moments with poise, limiting clean looks and making two saves to South Korea’s three. Passing volume favored South Korea 578-427, which tracks with their territorial play, while fouls were low on both sides at 9-7. Mexico still carved another late opening shown on the shot map, a reminder that they remained dangerous even without the ball. Romo took Player of the Match honors thanks to the match-winner and tireless midfield work, and Mexico’s team Sofascore Rating for this edition is 6.85, a fair reflection of a pragmatic, hard-fought win.

What the numbers say across all three World Cups

Stack the three meetings together and a pattern emerges. Mexico found different ways to win: overpowering in 1998, composed and clinical in 2018, and efficient with sturdy defending in 2026. According to Sofascore, Mexico tallied six goals in the trilogy and conceded only two. Across the three matches they attempted 46 total shots, hit 17 on target and generated nine big chances. The shot maps show central finishing positions recurring for Mexico, while many of South Korea’s attempts came from crowded zones.

Team Sofascore Ratings also reflect the arcs of each game. Mexico posted a stronger number in the high-chance 1998 match at 7.40, then 7.16 in 2018 when control and transitions did the trick, and 6.85 in a cagey 2026 outing where resilience mattered most. The tactical mix is notable. Mexico won once with the ball and once without it, plus one in between, a trait that usually belongs to tournament-savvy sides. If you follow these fixtures on Sofascore, you see how the underlying stats shape the story as much as the scoreline. Three meetings, three victories, and a clear statistical thread that explains why Mexico keep getting it right against South Korea at the World Cup.