Kwon Eun-bi, aespa's Karina and Winter Cheer on Korea at 2026 World Cup

JTBC’s hit travel-and-culture variety show Talk Pawon 25H is diving headfirst into the fever of the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a highly anticipated special episode centered around Group A and South Korea's thrilling opening match against the Czech Republic.

The special broadcast follows the "Talk Pawon Cheering Squad" straight to Guadalajara, Mexico, where the Korean national team went head-to-head against the Czech Republic in the group stage. Joining the studio to break down the tournament's high stakes are JTBC commentator and former national team defender Park Joo-ho, alongside Fabien, a well-known expatriate and longtime soccer enthusiast. Park, who has been pulling double duty with back-to-back broadcasting schedules, reveals that his media appearance requests have dramatically spiked since the historic Czech match. He also walks viewers through how he flawlessly predicted both the starting lineup and the final match score, adding exclusive behind-the-scenes insights from the team camp.

Live from the streets of Guadalajara, main hosts Jun Hyun-moo and Yang Se-chan link up with the show's Mexico-based correspondent to capture the electric, passionate energy of the fans during the opening match. After receiving an overwhelmingly warm welcome from the local Mexican crowd, the trio breaks into an impromptu "three-kiss" celebration on camera—a hilarious viral clip that has already racked up approximately 7 million views across social media platforms.

Inside Guadalajara Stadium, the cheering squad crosses paths with solo artist Kwon Eun-bi and aespa members Karina and Winter, who enthusiastically join the official cheering section for the high-octane match. The episode captures South Korea's dramatic, come-from-behind victory in vivid detail, highlighted by midfielder Hwang In-beom’s spectacular goal, which co-host Yang Se-chan had confidently predicted in advance. Park Joo-ho accompanies the footage with a sharp tactical review of the game's turning points.

Adding to the star-studded lineup, the episode also features an exclusive interview with Korean soccer legend and fellow JTBC commentator Park Ji-sung. A veteran of three consecutive World Cups, Park shares his expert reading of the current national team's chemistry, his strategic outlook for the remainder of the tournament, and the specific breakout players he is watching most closely.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup special edition of JTBC's Talk Pawon 25H airs this Monday at 8:50 p.m. KST. Due to the network's extensive live World Cup coverage, Episode 216, originally scheduled for the following week, will be preempted.