Four years after watching the World Cup in a jersey without a number, Oh Hyeon-gyu finally etched his name on football’s biggest stage.
On the 12th (local time) at Guadalajara Stadium in Mexico, Oh fired the match-winner as South Korea beat the Czech Republic 2-1 in their Group A opener at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. With the score tied 1-1, he buried Hwang In-beom’s cross in the 80th minute to complete the comeback, handing Korea a precious victory to start the group stage.
After the match, Oh couldn’t hide his emotions. In a post-game interview, he said it was an "indescribable feeling," revealing, "I didn’t feel well before the game. My fever went up to 38°C (100.4°F), and I wondered if I could even play today." He added, "Just being able to play at the World Cup is a blessing, and I’m truly grateful the coach gave me a chance so I could score and help us win."
His goal felt even more special because of what happened at the Qatar World Cup four years ago. Back then, Oh traveled with the squad as the youngest standby player, wearing a jersey without a number as injury cover for Son Heung-min, but he never stepped onto the World Cup pitch.
In 2022, Oh appeared on the tvN variety show You Quiz on the Block and shared a diary entry capturing how he felt at the time. Recalling the moment he posed for the team photo in a numberless jersey, he admitted it broke his heart and vowed, "In four years, I’ll be back wearing my number with pride."
That promise became reality. Not only did Oh take the field at this World Cup with his own number, he also became the hero of the opener with the decisive goal. The You Quiz on the Block team quickly sent congratulations, posting a photo from his past appearance on the show via their official social media and writing, "Oh Hyeon-gyu, who said four years ago he would wear a number at the 2026 World Cup, did it," and, "Congratulations on your first World Cup goal — the hero of the comeback against the Czech Republic."