Group A of the 2026 World Cup features the tournament's opening match, with co-hosts Mexico facing South Africa on June 11, 2026, at Estadio Azteca. The group also includes South Korea and Czechia, making for a competitive field for the second qualifying spot.

## The Teams

**Mexico** — As co-hosts, Mexico are the favorites to top the group. The team is led by coach Javier Aguirre, with a squad featuring Hirving Lozano, César Montes, and Luis Chávez. Mexico have home advantage and the backing of the home crowd.

**South Korea** — The Asian side returns with much of the squad that reached the 2022 round of 16. Son Heung-min leads the line, with Kim Min-jae anchoring the defense. The team has good experience and a clear tactical identity.

**South Africa** — Bafana Bafana return to the World Cup for the first time since 2010. The team is led by coach Hugo Broos, with Percy Tau and Themba Zwane as key players. South Africa will be playing for pride and a possible third-place finish.

**Czechia** — The European side returns to the World Cup for the first time since 2006. Patrik Schick leads the line, with Tomáš Souček anchoring the midfield. The team is well-organized and dangerous from set pieces.

## Key Matchups

**Mexico vs South Korea** — A rematch of the 2018 group stage, which Mexico won 1-0. The two sides have a history of close matches, and this is one of the most anticipated group stage games.

**South Korea vs Czechia** — A first-ever World Cup meeting between the two sides. The match will likely determine the second qualifying spot in the group.

**Mexico vs South Africa** — A rematch of the 2010 group stage, which South Africa won 1-0. The match is the opening game of the tournament and will set the tone for both sides.

## Predictions

Our pick for the group:
1. Mexico (home advantage, depth)
2. South Korea (tournament experience, Son Heung-min)
3. Czechia (set-piece threat, Schick)
4. South Africa (will be competitive but lack the depth of the favorites)

## What to Watch

- **The opening match atmosphere** at Estadio Azteca. The 83,000-capacity stadium will be packed, and the home crowd will be electric.
- **Son Heung-min's performance** for South Korea. The Tottenham star is one of the most dangerous attackers in the world.
- **Patrik Schick's goalscoring** for Czechia. The Bayer Leverkusen striker is in the form of his life.

## Conclusion

Group A is a competitive group with one favorite (Mexico) and three sides capable of causing an upset. The opening match will set the tone for the entire tournament, and the home crowd will be a major factor.