Mexico and South Korea play for group lead and other World Cup Day 8 highlights, in photos

Every team at the World Cup has played once. Day 8 features four games spread across all three host countries. It starts with the Czech Republic playing South Africa in Atlanta, where the roof may be closed because of possible thunderstorms. Then there’s Switzerland against Bosnia-Herzegovina in Los Angeles, followed by Canada taking on Qatar in Vancouver. Thursday finishes with Mexico facing South Korea in Guadalajara.

___

This is a gallery curated by AP photo editors.

Mexico and South Korea play for group lead and other World Cup Day 8 highlights, in photos | iNFOnews.ca
Mexico’s Julian Quinones (16), left, vies for the ball with South Korea’s Son Heung-min (7) during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Korea in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Thursday, June 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
Mexico and South Korea play for group lead and other World Cup Day 8 highlights, in photos | iNFOnews.ca
Mexico’s Edson Alvarez (4), left, attempts a bicycle kick clearance during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Korea in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Thursday, June 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
Mexico and South Korea play for group lead and other World Cup Day 8 highlights, in photos | iNFOnews.ca
Mexico’s Julian Quinones (16) battles for the ball with South Korea’s Lee Han-beom (2) during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Korea in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Thursday, June 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)
Mexico and South Korea play for group lead and other World Cup Day 8 highlights, in photos | iNFOnews.ca
South Korea’s Lee Jae-sung (10) reacts as he is tackled by Mexico’s Roberto Alvarado (25) during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Korea in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Thursday, June 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko )
Mexico and South Korea play for group lead and other World Cup Day 8 highlights, in photos | iNFOnews.ca
Mexico’s Jorge Sanchez (2) kicks the ball during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Korea in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Thursday, June 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)
Mexico and South Korea play for group lead and other World Cup Day 8 highlights, in photos | iNFOnews.ca
Mexico goalkeeper Raul Rangel, middle, reaches to stop the ball during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Korea in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Thursday, June 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
Mexico and South Korea play for group lead and other World Cup Day 8 highlights, in photos | iNFOnews.ca
Mexico’s Raul Jimenez (9), center, vies for the ball with South Korea’s Kim Min-jae (4) during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Korea in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Thursday, June 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
Mexico and South Korea play for group lead and other World Cup Day 8 highlights, in photos | iNFOnews.ca
South Korea’s Lee Han-beom (2) reacts after Mexico’s Luis Romo (7) scored the opening goal during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Korea in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Thursday, June 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko )
Mexico and South Korea play for group lead and other World Cup Day 8 highlights, in photos | iNFOnews.ca
Canada’s Jacob Shaffelburg, front, battles with Qatar’s Issa Laye (4) during the World Cup Group B soccer match between Canada and Qatar in Vancouver, British Columbia, Thursday, June 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Emma Peterson)
Mexico and South Korea play for group lead and other World Cup Day 8 highlights, in photos | iNFOnews.ca
Canada’s Ismael Kone falls while sustaining an injury during the World Cup Group B soccer match against Qatar in Vancouver, British Columbia, Thursday, June 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Mexico and South Korea play for group lead and other World Cup Day 8 highlights, in photos | iNFOnews.ca
Canada’s Jacob Shaffelburg celebrates after Qatar’s Mohamed Manai scores an own goal during the World Cup Group B soccer match in Vancouver, British Columbia, Thursday, June 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Mexico and South Korea play for group lead and other World Cup Day 8 highlights, in photos | iNFOnews.ca
Switzerland’s Johan Manzambi, left, celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal against Bosnia during the World Cup Group B soccer match in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Thursday, June 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Mexico and South Korea play for group lead and other World Cup Day 8 highlights, in photos | iNFOnews.ca
Switzerland’s Remo Freuler (8), celebrates after teammate Johan Manzambi (9) beat Bosnia goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj (1) to score his side’s third goal during the World Cup Group B soccer match between Switzerland and Bosnia in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Thursday, June 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Mexico and South Korea play for group lead and other World Cup Day 8 highlights, in photos | iNFOnews.ca
Bosnia fans cheer during the World Cup Group B soccer match between Switzerland and Bosnia in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Thursday, June 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Mexico and South Korea play for group lead and other World Cup Day 8 highlights, in photos | iNFOnews.ca
Bosnia goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj, right, clears the ball during the World Cup Group B soccer match between Switzerland and Bosnia in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Thursday, June 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
Mexico and South Korea play for group lead and other World Cup Day 8 highlights, in photos | iNFOnews.ca
Switzerland’s Michel Aebischer, left, and Bosnia’s Kerim Alajbegovic eye the ball during the World Cup Group B soccer match between Switzerland and Bosnia in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Thursday, June 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Mexico and South Korea play for group lead and other World Cup Day 8 highlights, in photos | iNFOnews.ca
Switzerland’s Dan Ndoye (11) attemps an overhead kick during the World Cup Group B soccer match between Switzerland and Bosnia in Inglewood, Calif, near Los Angeles, Thursday, June 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Mexico and South Korea play for group lead and other World Cup Day 8 highlights, in photos | iNFOnews.ca
Czechia’s Tomas Holes heads the ball during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Czechia and South Africa in Atlanta, Thursday, June 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)
Mexico and South Korea play for group lead and other World Cup Day 8 highlights, in photos | iNFOnews.ca
Switzerland’s Ruben Vargas, right, celebrates after scoring his side’s second goal during the World Cup Group B soccer match between Switzerland and Bosnia in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Thursday, June 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Mexico and South Korea play for group lead and other World Cup Day 8 highlights, in photos | iNFOnews.ca
Referee Tori Penso jogs flanked by assistant referees Kathryn Nesbitt, left, and Brooke Mayo during warmup before the World Cup Group A soccer match between Czechia and South Africa in Atlanta, Thursday, June 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)
Mexico and South Korea play for group lead and other World Cup Day 8 highlights, in photos | iNFOnews.ca
South Africa’s Aubrey Modiba retrieves the ball from the net after Czechia’s Michal Sadilek scored during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Czechia and South Africa in Atlanta, Thursday, June 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)
Mexico and South Korea play for group lead and other World Cup Day 8 highlights, in photos | iNFOnews.ca
Czechia’s Michal Sadilek (18) is mobbed by teammates after scoring the opening goal for their team during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Czechia and South Africa in Atlanta, Thursday, June 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)
Mexico and South Korea play for group lead and other World Cup Day 8 highlights, in photos | iNFOnews.ca
South African players celebrate after a goal during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Czechia and South Africa in Atlanta, Thursday, June 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)
Mexico and South Korea play for group lead and other World Cup Day 8 highlights, in photos | iNFOnews.ca
South Africa’s Teboho Mokoena celebrates after scoring a penalty, his side’s first goal during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Czechia and South Africa in Atlanta, Thursday, June 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)
Mexico and South Korea play for group lead and other World Cup Day 8 highlights, in photos | iNFOnews.ca
South Africa’s Oswin Appollis (7) and Czechia’s Robin Hranac (4) react after the World Cup Group A soccer match between Czechia and South Africa in Atlanta, Thursday, June 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)

News from © The Associated Press, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community?

The Associated Press

The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day.