World Cup 2026 Group A: Mexico, Korea, Czechia, RSA

The 2026 World Cup is almost here, and it all begins with Group A. On Thursday, June 11, Mexico and South Africa open the first-ever 48-team World Cup at the iconic Estadio Azteca —rebranded the Estadio Ciudad de Mexico— in a group rounded out by South Korea and Czechia. With the host nation as the clear favourite and three rivals dreaming of an upset, Group A blends the pressure of playing at home, Asian talent, a European comeback and African ambition. This is your complete guide: teams, schedule, key players and predictions.

The Four Teams in Group A

• Mexico (Concacaf): co-host and clear favourite; plays all three matches at home.
• South Korea (AFC): Asia's most consistent side, led by talisman Son Heung-min.
• Czechia (UEFA): back at a World Cup after 20 years and lethal from set pieces.
• South Africa (CAF): Bafana Bafana return 16 years later and open the tournament against Mexico.

The Schedule: Three Matchdays in June

Group A runs from June 11 to June 24, with almost every match staged at Mexican venues and a single trip to the United States:

• Matchday 1 — June 11: Mexico vs South Africa at the Estadio Ciudad de Mexico (opening match) and South Korea vs Czechia in Guadalajara.
• Matchday 2 — June 18: Czechia vs South Africa in Atlanta and Mexico vs South Korea in Guadalajara.
• Matchday 3 — June 24: Czechia vs Mexico at the Estadio Ciudad de Mexico and South Africa vs South Korea in Monterrey.

Mexico: the Hosts Looking to Break Their Curse

Javier Aguirre's El Tri arrive as clear group favourites, and not only because of their fervent home support. The coach, at his third World Cup in charge of Mexico, won the Nations League and the Concacaf Gold Cup in 2025, and enjoys the advantage of playing all three matchdays at home. In goal, Guillermo Ochoa is targeting a historic sixth World Cup, a milestone reached only by Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo; in midfield, captain Edson Alvarez (West Ham) pulls the strings, while up front the experience of Raul Jimenez (Fulham) coexists with the instinct of Santiago Gimenez (AC Milan). Opta's supercomputer gives them an 87% chance of advancing and sees them winning the group in nearly half of all simulations. But history weighs heavy: Mexico have never gone past the quarter-finals in 60 World Cup matches, suffered seven straight round-of-16 exits between 1994 and 2018, and in 2022 failed to even clear the group stage. As hosts, there are no more excuses.

South Korea: Son Heung-min and the Asian Wall

If anyone can trouble Mexico, it is South Korea. They were the only team to go unbeaten in Asian qualifying and are making their eleventh consecutive World Cup appearance since 1986, a level of consistency matched by very few. They are coached by Hong Myung-bo, captain of the historic 2002 semi-final run, and led by Son Heung-min, who after a decade at Tottenham now plays for Los Angeles FC in MLS and will face his fourth World Cup. Around him shine Lee Kang-in (PSG) and Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich), a backbone of genuine European pedigree. Opta rate them as the group's second favourites, with a 70% chance of advancing. Their ceiling away from home, however, has always been the round of 16: going further would make history.

Czechia: the European Comeback After 20 Years

Czechia return to a World Cup after two decades —their last appearance was Germany 2006— and they did it the dramatic way: they came through the European play-offs by eliminating Ireland and Denmark, both on penalties. Their coach, Miroslav Koubek, is at 74 the oldest manager at the tournament, and his football prioritises organisation and set pieces: they scored seven goals from corners in qualifying, more than any other European side. The danger has a name: Patrik Schick (Bayer Leverkusen), Czechia's all-time leading scorer, arrives in red-hot form; he is joined by the tireless Tomas Soucek (West Ham) and captain Ladislav Krejci (Wolverhampton). With a 64% chance of advancing according to Opta, Czechia shape up as Korea's main challenger for second place. A fact for the history books: as Czechoslovakia, this country were twice World Cup runners-up, in 1934 and 1962.

South Africa: Bafana Bafana Want to Spring a Surprise

South Africa return to a World Cup sixteen years after hosting it in 2010, and fate handed them a poetic twist: they open the tournament against Mexico, just as in that 2010 opener that ended 1-1. They are coached by Belgian Hugo Broos, an Africa Cup of Nations winner with Cameroon, who has already announced this will be his final adventure in the dugout. Their captain and standout figure is goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, the penalty hero of their 2023 African bronze medal; up front, Lyle Foster (Burnley) and winger Percy Tau offer a threat. It will not be easy: they are the lowest-ranked side in the group and must contend with the altitude of the Azteca. Even so, the new rule that qualifies the eight best third-placed teams keeps their hopes alive, and Opta give them almost a 50% chance of staying in the running.

Favourites and Predictions

The pecking order is clear, but nothing is settled. Mexico (87%) and South Korea (70%) start with the edge for the top two spots; Czechia (64%) lurk close behind and South Africa will look to sneak in among the best third-placed teams. For the hosts, the goal goes beyond merely advancing: with home advantage, they dream of finally reaching the quarter-finals that have eluded them since 1986. For everyone else, every point earned on Mexican soil will be worth its weight in gold.

"Group A hides no European giant nor any South American powerhouse, and that is exactly what makes it so compelling: it is the host's group, where the pressure of an entire nation can be its greatest strength… or the heaviest burden to bear."

Simulate World Cup 2026 Group A

The World Cup has not kicked off yet, but at Fut Simulator Pro you can already live it. Simulate the entire Group A —Mexico, South Africa, South Korea and Czechia—, play all three matchdays and find out who advances to the round of 32 before a ball is even kicked at the Azteca.

• Simulate all 6 Group A matches and build the final table
• Find out whether Mexico cash in on home advantage and win the group
• See whether South Korea or Czechia claim second place
• Take your team through the entire 2026 World Cup all the way to the final

"Four teams, one single goal: to advance. Group A opens the 2026 World Cup, and in the simulator you can write the ending before anyone else."