World Cup 2026 Group A: Mexico and South Korea Set the Pace
Updated 17 June 2026.
World Cup 2026 Group A sees co-hosts Mexico and South Korea both win their openers, leaving Czechia and South Africa needing a result on June 18 just to stay in the conversation. South Africa’s task got harder still after two players were sent off against Mexico and are now suspended, while Czechia were unlucky to lose a match they led.
| Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| South Korea | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Czechia | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| South Africa | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
How round one went
Mexico beat South Africa 2-0 in a chaotic Group A opener that saw three red cards and South Africa finish with nine men, Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez scoring for the hosts. South Korea then came from behind to beat Czechia 2-1, Ladislav Krejci’s early goal undone by a Hwang In-beom equaliser and an Oh Hyeon-gyu winner. Read the full reports: Mexico 2-0 South Africa and South Korea 2-1 Czechia.
What is next
Round two on June 18 could decide the group early. Mexico face South Korea in the day’s headline match, a draw likely enough to send both through with a game to spare, while Czechia host South Africa in a match the loser is almost certain to exit the tournament from. Our predictions and full team news are in the Czechia vs South Africa preview and the Mexico vs South Korea preview, or see the whole day’s slate in our June 18 preview hub.
How Group A can qualify
The top two advance automatically, with the third-placed side still able to reach the Round of 32 as one of the eight best third-placed teams across all 12 groups. A win for Mexico or South Korea on June 18 would put them on the brink of qualifying with a match to spare. Track every group on our all-groups standings tracker, and see the format in our complete World Cup 2026 guide.
Frequently asked questions
Who is top of World Cup 2026 Group A?
Mexico and South Korea are level on three points after round one, both ahead of Czechia and South Africa on goal difference.
What are the Group A fixtures on June 18?
Czechia play South Africa at 12pm ET, and Mexico play South Korea at 9pm ET, both at the World Cup 2026 group stage.
Sources: 2026 FIFA World Cup Group A.
