On Thursday, the day South Korea faced the Czech Republic in the 2026 World Cup finals in North and Central America, Seoul's Gwanghwamun Square, the site of a public street-cheering event, was already crowded from early morning with people dressed in red. Soccer fans gathered in small groups in front of the giant screen, holding mats and cheering tools in both hands, waiting for the match to start with excited expressions. Staff from private security firms and police worked to maintain order, repeatedly shouting "keep walking forward" to ensure pedestrian paths were not blocked. When the popular idol group Cortis appeared before kickoff, fans took photos with the screen as their backdrop.
Kang Hyun-woo, 22, who came from Cheonan in South Chungcheong Province, said, "I took time off to come cheer for the World Cup. I brought Taegukgi face paint, a mini Taegukgi, and a Taegukgi to wrap around my body," adding, "I'm cheering for every single member of our national team." Jo Dae-young, 17, a high school student who lives in Hongdae, smiled and said, "I did street-cheering for the first time during the 2018 World Cup, and that gave me a dream of becoming a soccer player, so I actually played as one. I especially like Son Heung-min. This is my third time street-cheering, and I'll come cheer for soccer for the rest of my life."
Foreigners also joined the street-cheering. Fantine from France and Daniel of Spanish nationality, who said they arrived in Korea a week ago, waved their hands and said, "We came to cheer because we like Son Heung-min. The atmosphere isn't rowdy yet, but once the match starts, we expect even more passionate cheering, so we're looking forward to it." Citizens gathered in the square made no effort to hide their anticipation, predicting scores such as "1-0" and "2-1."
When the match began, citizens stopped not only in front of the large screen at Gwanghwamun Square but also in front of the electronic board installed at the KT Gwanghwamun Building, and began cheering for the national team with one heart and one mind. Citizens could also be seen taking their places on the stairs of the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts. Some had spread mats on the pavement blocks and sat down. Office workers were also spotted rushing out after hurriedly grabbing red jerseys. The number of citizens gathered at Gwanghwamun Square that day was reported to be around 6,000.
About halfway through the first half, when the screen showed Son Heung-min getting a chance that failed to lead to a goal, sighs of disappointment broke out in various places. Some fans expressed frustration whenever players were pushed down by their opponents, saying, "Why are they playing so roughly?" As the national team kept getting chances but missed them time after time, the groans grew louder and louder.
About 10 minutes into the second half, when the Czech Republic scored, the Gwanghwamun area fell instantly dead silent. Here and there, sighs full of disappointment broke out, with people saying, "They should have blocked that better." But before even 10 minutes had passed, when Hwang In-beom (Feyenoord Rotterdam) scored a stylish goal, the streets filled with cheers. People embraced one another and shared their joy. The chilled, sunken atmosphere vanished, and fans once again waved the Taegukgi and chanted "Korea." Cries of "equalizer" could be heard in places. When Oh Hyun-gyu (Besiktas JK) struck a dramatic go-ahead goal in the 35th minute of the second half, Gwanghwamun Square turned into a veritable cauldron of frenzy.
Notably, there were office workers in suits with ID badges around their necks scattered across Gwanghwamun Square that day. Because of the time difference, the match was held during weekday lunchtime, so some companies near Gwanghwamun adjusted their lunch hours to start at 11 a.m. to match the kickoff time. Office workers came out with food they could quickly grab from nearby convenience stores or fast food restaurants, standing on the streets and staring intently at the screens.
Jeong Ji-eun, 28, and Lee A-reum, 34, who work at a company in the Gwanghwamun area, said, "We were surprised that the excitement was as hot as the weather. We came out a little early before lunchtime started," adding, "The screen quality at the KT Gwanghwamun West Building is good, so it's comfortable to watch the match."
In the hot weather, citizens watched the match holding parasols or cooled off near the fountain. The "Happy Place" (Happysso), created by the Seoul Metropolitan Government to prevent heat-related illnesses, was packed with no room to step from the moment it opened at 10 a.m. Although the facility was not set up specifically for this day, an official said it had never been as popular as it was that day. A staff member operating the Happysso said, "90 citizens visited within an hour and a half of opening today."
Nearby businesses also smiled at the "World Cup boom" that had come for the first time in a while. In fact, in front of convenience stores near Gwanghwamun Square, citizens lined up to buy food and drinks. Chicken restaurants and pubs that usually open in the late afternoon were busy welcoming customers from early morning. Signs reading "World Cup match viewing available" were posted on the doors of most restaurants. Right after the match began, restaurants filled with office workers who had come for lunch. A staff member at one chicken restaurant said, "We normally open at 5 p.m., but today we opened the shop at 10 a.m.," adding, "We've been fully booked for a while, so we can't take orders. I think we've turned away close to 100 customers."
