Group A World Cup 2026: Schedule, Teams, Standings & Results
Group A World Cup 2026 kicked off the entire tournament on June 11, and it already has its winner: co-hosts Mexico. Mexico, South Korea, Czechia and South Africa make up the group, which runs from June 11 to 24 across Mexican and US venues.
Here is where things stand. Mexico won both openers — 2-0 over South Africa and 1-0 over South Korea — to reach six points, clinch top spot and become the first team into the round of 32. South Korea sit second on three points, while Czechia and South Africa have one point each and likely need a win on June 24 to survive.
Below you get the full schedule with ET kickoff times, live standings and results, a group prediction, and how to watch every game in the US.
Group A World Cup 2026 Teams
Four nations make up the group. Mexico enters as a co-host, South Korea brings the most pedigree among the challengers, and Czechia and South Africa arrive 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 plays six matches over two weeks. The opener doubled as the first game of the whole World Cup, and the final two fixtures kick 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 vs Mexico | 9:00 p.m. | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City |
| Wed, June 24 | South Africa vs South Korea | 9:00 p.m. | Estadio BBVA, Monterrey |
Estadio Azteca, listed by FIFA as Estadio Ciudad de México, hosts 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 updates live as results come in. The top two teams advance to the round of 32, and the best eight third-placed teams across the 12 groups also reach the knockout stage. After two rounds, Mexico (6 points) have already qualified and secured first place, South Korea (3) hold the second automatic spot, and Czechia and South Africa sit level on one point.
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 — Michal Sadílek struck early and Teboho Mokoena equalised from the penalty spot. Later that night, Mexico beat South Korea 1-0 in Guadalajara: Luis Romo pounced on goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu’s error to volley home just after half-time, sending the co-hosts through as the first team to reach the round of 32.
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Mexico
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South Korea
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Czechia
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South Africa
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| 1 | Mexico | 1–0 | 2–0 | |||
| 2 | South Korea | 2–1 | ||||
| 3 | Czechia | 1–1 | ||||
| 4 | South Africa |
Who Will Win Group A?
Mexico have won Group A. Two wins from two, a clean defensive record and an unassailable head-to-head over South Korea mean El Tri have locked up first place and can rotate for their June 24 finale against Czechia.
The live battle now is for second place and the best-third lifeline. South Korea, on three points, are favorites for the runner-up spot but must handle South Africa on June 24, with Son Heung-min their key man. Czechia and South Africa, level on one point, likely need a win to stay alive in the round-of-32 race.
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 final-day storyline is the runner-up race on June 24, when Czechia vs Mexico and South Africa vs South Korea kick off together at 9:00 p.m. ET, so second place could be decided in real time.
Ready to watch? See our full World Cup 2026 live stream guide for every viewing option.
FAQ About Group A World Cup 2026
Who has won Group A at the 2026 World Cup?
Mexico. Back-to-back wins — 2-0 over South Africa and 1-0 over South Korea — put the co-hosts on six points, clinched top spot and made them the first team to reach the round of 32. Second place and a best-third spot are still open between South Korea, Czechia and South Africa, decided on June 24.
Is Group A the group of death at the 2026 World Cup?
No. Group A is 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. A true group of death needs several elite sides, and Group A had none, which is why Mexico topped it with two early wins.
When are the final Group A matches?
The last round is on Wednesday, June 24. Czechia vs Mexico (Estadio Azteca) and South Africa vs South Korea (Estadio BBVA, Monterrey) both kick off at 9:00 p.m. ET, played at the same time so no team gains an unfair edge.
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 the runner-up meets the Group B runner-up. A third-placed team from Group A can still reach the round of 32 as one of the eight best third-placed teams.
How can fans buy tickets to Group A 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 became the tournament’s first qualifiers and sealed top spot with wins over South Africa and South Korea. With second place and a third-place lifeline still up for grabs on June 24, bookmark this page for live standings and results, and catch the rest of Group A on FOX, FS1, Telemundo and Peacock.
