FIFA World Cup 2026 · Final draw
World Cup 2026 Group A: Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Czechia
Six fixtures across 11 Jun–24 Jun at 4 venues. The top two from Group A progress directly to the Round of 32; third place may still go through as one of the eight best third-placed finishers across the twelve groups.
- Group fixtures
- 6
- Window
- 11 Jun – 24 Jun
- Venues
- 4
- Slots advancing
- 2 + 3rd-place pool
Group A preview
What to expect
Mexico's home turf, but Aguirre's side haven't reached a quarter-final on foreign soil for decades and this one starts with the opener at Azteca. South Korea's the seeded threat; Czechia and South Africa are scrapping for third.
Schedule
Group A fixtures
All six Group A matches, ordered by date and local kick-off. Times shown in the venue's local zone.
| Date | KO (local) | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Jun | 13:00 | Mexico v South Africa | Estadio Azteca · Mexico City |
| 11 Jun | 20:00 | South Korea v Czechia | Estadio Akron · Guadalajara |
| 18 Jun | 12:00 | Czechia v South Africa | Mercedes-Benz Stadium · Atlanta |
| 18 Jun | 19:00 | Mexico v South Korea | Estadio Akron · Guadalajara |
| 24 Jun | 18:00 | South Africa v South Korea | Estadio BBVA · Monterrey |
| 24 Jun | 19:00 | Czechia v Mexico | Estadio Azteca · Mexico City |
The four nations
Squads & storylines
Current head coach, the player most likely to define the tournament for them, and a quick read on form via FIFA ranking and recent World Cup history.
Mexico
FIFA #15- Manager
- Javier Aguirre
- Key player
- Edson Álvarez
- Last WC
- Group stage (2022)
View Mexico tickets →
South Africa
FIFA #60- Manager
- Hugo Broos
- Key player
- Lyle Foster
- Last WC
- Group stage (2010)
South Korea
FIFA #25- Manager
- Hong Myung-bo
- Key player
- Son Heung-min
- Last WC
- Round of 16 (2022)
Czechia
FIFA #41- Manager
- Miroslav Koubek
- Key player
- Patrik Schick
- Last WC
- Group stage (2006)
How Group A works
Three matches · Six fixtures
Each team plays the other three exactly once — six total group-stage fixtures. Three points for a win, one for a draw, none for a defeat. Ties resolved on goal difference, then goals scored, then head-to-head record, then fair-play points.
- 1st place
- Direct to Round of 32 as a top seed. Reseeded path avoids other group winners until the quarter-finals where possible.
- 2nd place
- Direct to Round of 32. Likely to face a group winner from a paired group in the first knockout tie.
- 3rd place
- Still alive. The eight best third-placed sides from the twelve groups progress to the R32. Ranked on points first, then goal difference and goals scored.
- 4th place
- Eliminated. Tournament ends after the third matchday for the group's bottom side.
Other groups
Browse the rest of the draw
FAQ
Group A — frequently asked
Which teams are in World Cup 2026 Group A?
Group A contains Mexico, South Africa, South Korea and Czechia. The draw was made by FIFA on 5 December 2025; teams play each other once in a single round-robin across the group stage.
How many matches will Group A play?
Six matches in total. Each of the four teams plays the other three exactly once, across three matchdays between 11 and 27 June 2026. Three points for a win, one for a draw.
How does Group A qualify for the knockouts?
The top two finishers in Group A qualify directly for the Round of 32. The third-placed side enters the pool of twelve third-placed sides across the group stage — the best eight on points, then goal difference, then goals scored, advance alongside them. Fourth place is eliminated.
Where can I buy tickets for Group A matches?
Anyseats lists verified secondary-market tickets from sellers in our authentication network for every Group A fixture as inventory becomes available. Every listing is identity-matched against the named ticket holder; every order is backed by our 100% Buyer Guarantee. FIFA's official Last-Minute Sales Phase also runs face-value sales on a first-come-first-served basis until kick-off where supply remains.