Group A World Cup 2026: Final Standings, Results & Who Qualified
Group A World Cup 2026 kicked off the entire tournament on June 11, and it ended with co-hosts Mexico on top. Mexico, South Korea, Czechia and South Africa made up the group, which ran June 11 to 24 across Mexican and US venues.
Here is the final word. Mexico won all three games to top the group. South Africa stunned the group with a 1-0 win over South Korea to grab second and reach the round of 32. South Korea finished third and Czechia bottom, both out.
Below you get the full schedule with ET kickoff times, live standings and results, the group verdict, and how to watch every game in the US.
Group A World Cup 2026 Teams
Four nations made up the group. Mexico entered as a co-host, South Korea brought the most pedigree among the challengers, and Czechia and South Africa arrived as the outsiders. FIFA rankings below reflect the final list before the tournament.
| Team | Confederation | FIFA Ranking | How They Qualified | Best World Cup Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇲🇽 Mexico | CONCACAF | 14 | Automatic (co-host) | Quarter-finals (1970, 1986) |
| 🇰🇷 South Korea | AFC | 25 | Asian qualifying | Fourth place (2002) |
| 🇨🇿 Czechia | UEFA | 40 | European play-offs | Runners-up (1934, 1962, as Czechoslovakia) |
| 🇿🇦 South Africa | CAF | 60 | African qualifying | Group stage (1998, 2002, 2010) |
Tap any team name above for its full and final 26-man squad.
Group A World Cup 2026 Schedule
The group played six matches over two weeks. The opener doubled as the first game of the whole World Cup, and the final two fixtures kicked off together on June 24. All times are Eastern Time (ET).
| Date | Match | Kickoff (ET) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thu, June 11 | Mexico 2-0 South Africa | 3:00 p.m. | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City |
| Thu, June 11 | South Korea 2-1 Czechia | 10:00 p.m. | Estadio Akron, Guadalajara |
| Thu, June 18 | Czechia 1-1 South Africa | 12:00 p.m. | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta |
| Thu, June 18 | Mexico 1-0 South Korea | 9:00 p.m. | Estadio Akron, Guadalajara |
| Wed, June 24 | Czechia 0-3 Mexico | 9:00 p.m. | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City |
| Wed, June 24 | South Africa 1-0 South Korea | 9:00 p.m. | Estadio BBVA, Monterrey |
Estadio Azteca, listed by FIFA as Estadio Ciudad de México, hosted the opener and a June 24 match and seats roughly 87,000 fans.
Want the full picture? See the complete World Cup 2026 schedule for all 104 matches.
World Cup 2026 Group A Standings
The table below shows the live standings. The top two teams advanced to the round of 32, along with the best eight third-placed teams across the 12 groups. Final standings: Mexico won Group A with a perfect nine points. South Africa took second on four. South Korea finished third on three and missed out, with Czechia bottom on one.
FIFA uses new tiebreakers in 2026. If teams finish level on points, head-to-head record comes first: head-to-head points, then head-to-head goal difference, then head-to-head goals scored. Overall goal difference, overall goals scored, the fair-play record, and finally the FIFA ranking settle anything still tied.
Group A Results
Mexico opened with a 2-0 win over South Africa at Estadio Azteca through Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez, in a fiery match that set a World Cup record with three red cards. South Korea then came from behind to beat Czechia 2-1 in Guadalajara, with Hwang In-beom levelling and Oh Hyeon-gyu grabbing the winner.
On June 18, Czechia and South Africa drew 1-1 in Atlanta, with Michal Sadílek striking early and Teboho Mokoena equalising from the penalty spot. Later that night, Mexico beat South Korea 1-0 in Guadalajara, Luis Romo pouncing on a goalkeeper error to volley home just after half-time.
On June 24, Mexico completed a perfect group stage with a 3-0 win over Czechia in Mexico City. South Africa pulled off the surprise of the group, beating South Korea 1-0 in Monterrey to leap into second place. South Korea finished third and went out, and Czechia ended bottom.
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Mexico
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South Africa
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South Korea
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Czechia
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| 1 | Mexico | 2–0 | 1–0 | |||
| 2 | South Africa | 1–0 | ||||
| 3 | South Korea | 2–1 | ||||
| 4 | Czechia | 0–3 | 1–1 |
Who Won Group A?
Mexico won Group A in style. The co-hosts took nine points from three games, became the tournament’s first qualifiers, and head to the round of 32 full of confidence.
South Africa were the surprise package, sneaking through in second after a 1-0 win over South Korea. Son Heung-min’s South Korea finished third and missed out, while Czechia went home bottom.
How to Watch Group A World Cup 2026 in the US
You have clear English and Spanish options for every Group A World Cup 2026 match. In English, games air on FOX and FS1, with select matches streaming free on Tubi. In Spanish, Telemundo and Universo carry the action, and you can stream the Spanish feed on Peacock.
The group stage is done. Mexico and South Africa both reached the round of 32, where their knockout dates and opponents follow next.
Ready to watch? See our full World Cup 2026 live stream guide for every viewing option.
FAQ About Group A World Cup 2026
Who won Group A at the 2026 World Cup?
Mexico won Group A with a perfect nine points, winning all three games. South Africa qualified in second on four points after a 1-0 win over South Korea. South Korea finished third and Czechia bottom, both eliminated.
Which Group A teams qualified for the round of 32?
Mexico and South Africa qualified from Group A. Mexico went through as group winners and South Africa as runners-up, a surprise after they beat South Korea on the final day. South Korea and Czechia were eliminated.
Is Group A the group of death at the 2026 World Cup?
No. Group A was one of the more open groups. Co-host Mexico and South Korea ranked as the favorites, while Czechia and South Africa sat lower in the FIFA rankings. Mexico won it with a perfect record, while South Africa edged through in second.
Where do the Group A winner and runner-up go in the round of 32?
Group A winners Mexico advance to face a third-placed team from another group, while runners-up South Africa meet the Group B runner-up. The exact opponents and dates are confirmed once every group is complete.
How can fans buy tickets to round of 32 matches?
Tickets are sold only through FIFA’s official ticketing platform at FIFA.com. Prices and availability vary by match and seating category. Avoid unofficial resellers, since FIFA can void tickets bought outside approved channels. Official resale, when available, also runs through the FIFA platform to keep your purchase safe.
What channel is Group A on in the US?
In English, Group A matches air on FOX and FS1, with select games streaming free on Tubi. In Spanish, watch on Telemundo and Universo, or stream the Spanish feed on Peacock.
Group A World Cup 2026 belongs to Mexico, who won all three games to top the group, with South Africa the surprise runners-up. Both reached the round of 32, while South Korea and Czechia went out. Bookmark this page for the latest, and follow Mexico and South Africa in the knockouts on FOX, FS1, Telemundo and Peacock.
