2026 World Cup Group A Guide: Teams, Fixtures, Predictions and Latest Odds

The 2026 World Cup opened with a grand ceremony at the famous Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, where co‑hosts Mexico began the tournament by beating South Africa. That was followed by South Korea’s brilliant comeback victory over Czech Republic.

The two winners from matchday one clashed in the second round, with Mexico becoming the first team to qualify for the last 32.

Group A consists of CONCACAF giants Mexico, Asian powerhouse South Korea, European dark horses Czech Republic and a South African team returning to the finals for the first time since 2010.

Football Whispers breaks down Group A in full, including fixtures, latest odds and predictions.

World Cup 2026 Group A winners odds

• Mexico – 2/5
• South Korea – 11/5
• Czech Republic – 13/1
• South Africa – 40/1

Mexico entered as favourites to win Group A, backed by home advantage and a squad that recently won the Gold Cup together. The Czech Republic and South Korea sat closely behind, while South Africa were priced as long-shot outsiders.

World Cup 2026 Group A qualification odds

• Mexico – 1/9 (Qualified ✅)
• South Korea – 1/20
• Czech Republic – 19/10
• South Africa – 4/1

After a commanding 2-0 win in the first round, followed by a narrow 1-0 victory in the second, Mexico became the first team at the 2026 World Cup to qualify for the knockouts. South Korea are favourites to finish second, while Czech Republic and South Africa are poised to fight for the third spot.

Note: All odds correct at time of publishing.

World Cup 2026 Group A fixtures: Match-by-match schedule

Group A: Full Fixture Schedule

All six matches, with venues and kick-off times

FIFA World Cup 2026

Gameweek 1 Thursday 11 June 2026

🇲🇽Mexico

vs

South Africa🇿🇦

10pm BST (4pm ET, 11 Jun) Estadio Azteca, Mexico City

Mexico 1/2

Draw 14/5

South Africa 5/1

🇰🇷South Korea

vs

Czechia🇨🇿

4am BST (10pm ET, 12 Jun) Estadio Akron, Zapopan

South Korea 6/4

Draw 9/4

Czechia 13/8

Gameweek 2 Thursday 18 & Friday 19 June 2026

🇨🇿Czechia

vs

South Africa🇿🇦

6pm BST (1pm ET) Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta Thursday 18 June

Czechia 8/13

Draw 14/5

South Africa 15/4

🇲🇽Mexico

vs

South Korea🇰🇷

3am BST (10pm ET) Estadio Akron, Zapopan Friday 19 June

Mexico 5/1

Draw 3/1

South Korea 19/40

Gameweek 3 Thursday 25 June 2026

🇿🇦South Africa

vs

South Korea🇰🇷

3am BST (10pm ET, 25 Jun) Estadio BBVA, Guadalupe Simultaneous kick-off

South Africa 17/4

Draw 14/5

South Korea 11/20

🇨🇿Czechia

vs

Mexico🇲🇽

3am BST (10pm ET, 25 Jun) Estadio Azteca, Mexico City Simultaneous kick-off

Czechia 21/10

Draw 13/5

Mexico 21/20

Odds correct at time of publishing. UK kick-off times shown.

2026 World Cup Group A predictions and betting angles

Mexico

Mexico returned to hosting duties for the first time since 1986, when Diego Maradona last played and lifted the coveted trophy on the Azteca soil.  They arrive in strong competitive form, having won the 2025 CONCACAF Nations League and the Gold Cup, and currently sit 14th in FIFA's world rankings.

Estadio Azteca hosted to an interesting curtain-raiser, as 10-man Mexico cruised to a comfortable 2-0 win over nine-man South Africa in a repeat of their 2010 opening-day matchup. It was the first time three red cards were brandished in a World Cup opener.

El Tricolor faced South Korea next in arguably their toughest group match. After a bland first half, the deadlock broke following Kim Seung-Gyu’s mishandling of the ball in the box. Luis Romo tucked it straight into the net at the first time of asking for the match's only goal.

The victory makes it three successive World Cup wins for Mexico for the first time in their history. With home advantage, a balanced group and two straight wins, Mexico are the first team to qualify for the last 32.

South Africa

South Africa returned to the World Cup for the first time since hosting in 2010. They topped their qualifying group ahead of Nigeria, securing their place through consistent defensive performances. The Bafana Bafana squad is largely home‑based.

However, neither their defence nor attack made any impact in the tournament opener against Mexico. They were on the receiving end of a 2-0 thumping, with Yaya Sithole and Themba Zwane both picking up red cards for cynical challenges.

South Africa were under pressure to upset Czechia in the second round. The Europeans dealt an early scare when Michal Sadilek fired a low left-footed finish, but a late Teboho Mokoena penalty kept their hopes of World Cup progression alive. A loss would have all but confirmed their return ticket home.

Bafana Bafana are now level on one point with Czechia, with their fate set to be decided on the final day. South Africa are still at the bottom of bookmakers’ charts as clear underdogs to progress to the knockouts. They have never made it past the group stages in three World Cup appearances (1998, 2002, 2010). South Korea will be their toughest test yet.

South Korea

South Korea are appearing at their 11th consecutive World Cup, having qualified unbeaten ahead of China, scoring 20 goals and conceding just once along the way. After Mexico, the Tigers of Asia are one Group A’s favourites to progress to the next round.

The Taegeuk Warrios came from behind to secure a brilliant 2-1 win over Czech Republic in Guadalajara. Oh Hyeon-Gyu’s late strike ensured they would play Mexico level on three points.

Their clash against Mexico was rightly described as the group decider ahead of kick-off. They played out a toothless opening half. Minutes after the restart, a mistake by goalkeeper Seung-Gyu handed the ball on a platter for Luis Romo. The Chivas midfielder's first-time finish ultimately earned El Tri a 1-0 win.

South Koea are a strong unit – their squad features more Europe‑based players than at any point in their history. But they face a nervy finale against South Africa in their final group game. However, Hong Myung-Bo's men are still the favourites to finish inside the top two in Group A.

Czech Republic

The Czech Republic return to the World Cup for the first time since 2006 after navigating the European qualification play-offs. They came from 2-0 down to beat the Republic of Ireland on penalties, then eliminated a heavily-favoured Denmark in another shootout.

Czechia put in a confident display against South Korea in their World Cup opener. But were ultimately dealt a 2-1 blow after a late Korean comeback. They would have then hoped to nick all three points against arguably the weakest team in the group on paper, South Africa.

Michal Sadilek broke the deadlock in the sixth minute, marking this World Cup’s earliest goal. However, what followed was a tasteless display. South Africa grew in confidence after the break, eventually equalising via Teboho Mokoena’s late penalty to make it 1-1.

The Czechs may lack the attacking depth of Mexico or South Korea, but their resilience in qualifying suggests they can compete to qualify until the end. A win against Mexico on the final day is necessary if they are to make it past the group stages for the first time since 1990.

Final Group A prediction

1. Mexico
2. South Korea
3. Czech Republic
4. South Africa

In the new format, eight of the 12 group's third-placed sides will also qualify for the first knockout round i.e. round of 32. They will be the best eight sides to finish third in their respective groups.

All twelve third-placed teams are ranked, with the eight teams that have the best record moving to the next round. All is not lost for Czechia and South Africa.

Group A best bet

• Czech Republic to qualify (19/10)

Mexico’s consistency and home advantage has given them a clear edge. South Korea’s qualifying record and emerging squad depth position them to finish runners-up in Group A. Amongst the four teams, South Africa are least likely to progress as they play South Korea, but third-placed Czechia face toppers Mexico on the final day.

Read our best World Cup betting tips and strategies