Some 10,000 citizens (organizers estimate) gathered for a street-cheering event at Gwanghwamun Square to support the South Korea national football team in its 2026 North and Central America World Cup opener against the Czech Republic.

At 11 a.m. on the 12th, a street-cheering event for the North and Central America World Cup match against the Czech Republic was held at Gwanghwamun Square in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Despite it being a weekday morning, from 8 a.m. the square filled with citizens in red attire. In the sweltering summer heat, people shielded themselves from the sun with parasols and hats as they got ready to cheer. At event booths run by KT and Korea Sports and Leisure, giveaways of street-cheering items such as sun visors and cool packs took place. At 10 a.m., the idol group Cortis also performed.

The Korea Football Association and others had expected about 6,000 people to visit the square, but according to the organizers, 11,000 turned out to cheer. Police deployed about 200 personnel in three mobile units around Gwanghwamun Square for comprehensive control.

Chae Su-wan (42), who joined the street cheering with his son Chae Seung-woo (13), said, “I applied for a field trip at his school and came out to cheer together,” and added, “It will be a good memory with my son.” The two hurriedly bought national team jerseys for the event and came wearing them.

Czech students Adela (25) and Hana (24) also came to Gwanghwamun Square draped in the Czech flag. Hana said, “It is exciting that the Czech Republic has reached the World Cup finals for the first time in a long while,” adding, “We came to Gwanghwamun, where you can best feel the atmosphere.” Adela said, “I feel intimidated among the many Korean fans, but Korean fans are kind.” The two smiled, saying, “Regardless of the result, it will be a good memory.”

From 11:50 a.m., when the first half ended, office workers with ID badges hanging from their necks joined the street cheering. They filled the square, many holding a sandwich or coffee in one hand. Some wore national team jerseys under their dress shirts. Yu Hwan-ju (24), who works at a company near Gwanghwamun, said, “Cheers could be heard even inside the office, so we used the lunch break to come out and watch with colleagues,” adding, “Even as of yesterday it did not feel like the World Cup, but now it really feels that ‘The World Cup is the World Cup’.”

When the Czech Republic scored the opener in the 14th minute of the second half, the square briefly fell into gloom, but when Hwang In-beom struck the equalizer in the 22nd minute, it was engulfed in a huge roar. When Oh Hyeon-gyu netted the go-ahead goal in the 35th minute, people hugged one another and jumped up and down in celebration. When the match ended in a 2-1 victory, the crowd roared. Following directions from organizers and police, citizens exited the square in an orderly manner.