[Sportschosun Kim Jun-seok] South Korea national football team striker Oh Hyeon-gyu delivered a dramatic comeback goal in the team's opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, helping secure victory. At the same time, the touching story of his parents, who closed their restaurant for three weeks to cheer on their son's World Cup appearance, has warmed hearts.
Led by head coach Hong Myung-bo, the South Korea national football team earned a 2-1 comeback win over the Czech Republic in the first match of Group A at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on the 12th at Guadalajara Stadium in Zapopan, Mexico, local time.
The match-winning goal in the 35th minute of the second half came from Oh Hyeon-gyu. His strike, which broke a 1-1 deadlock, gave South Korea its first group-stage victory and marked the first World Cup goal of his career.
Right after the match, one heartwarming story began drawing attention on online communities and social media, alongside the team's performance.
It was a notice posted by the restaurant run by Oh Hyeon-gyu's parents in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province.
In the notice, the restaurant said, "We will be temporarily closed from June 8 to 30 to cheer on the South Korea national football team at the World Cup." It added, "Our son will be playing as a national team member at the World Cup, and as a family, we want to be there in person to support him and give him strength." The restaurant also apologized to customers, saying, "We are sorry for any inconvenience caused by your wasted trip."
The parents' decision to set aside their livelihood for about three weeks and travel to Mexico so they could support their son on the World Cup stage moved many football fans.
When Oh Hyeon-gyu scored the winning goal in his World Cup debut, the wave of support even spread to the restaurant.
Users left five-star reviews on Kakao Map and NAVER Map, posting cheerful congratulatory messages such as, "I sincerely hope the World Cup cheering break lasts even longer," "I'll come eat some loach soup and get the energy for another comeback goal," "A bowl of loach soup helped raise South Korean football," and "Congratulations to Oh Hyeon-gyu and his family."
Some fans also expressed their emotion, saying, "A closure like this is always welcome," "The reason for closing the shop is so admirable," and "You can really feel the parents' hearts as they left to cheer for their son."
Oh Hyeon-gyu has also spoken several times in the past about his affection for the loach soup restaurant run by his parents.
In an interview with JTBC in March, he laughed and said, "While others were eating baby food, I was eating rice mixed into loach soup," adding, "I think the secret to my strong physique is loach soup."
He then said, "What raised me was 10,000 bowls of loach soup," and added, "I am truly proud of my parents," drawing attention.
Football fans continue to applaud the dramatic story of parents who closed their restaurant and traveled far overseas to support their son, and of a son who responded with a comeback goal on the World Cup stage.
narusi@sportschosun.com
