Group A World Cup 2026 kicks off the entire tournament. Co-host Mexico, South Korea, Czechia, and South Africa fill the group. The first match is June 11 at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
Here is the bottom line. Mexico is the group favorite at home. South Korea is the main threat, led by captain Son Heung-min. The group runs from June 11 to 24.
Below you get the full schedule with ET kickoff times, live standings, and results. You also see how to watch every Group A game in the US.
Group A World Cup 2026 Teams
Four nations make up Group A. Mexico enters as a co-host. South Korea brings star power. Czechia and South Africa round out the group as outsiders.
| Team | Confederation | FIFA Ranking | How They Qualified | Best World Cup Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico | CONCACAF | 15 | Automatic (co-host) | Quarter-finals (1970, 1986) |
| South Korea | AFC | 25 | Asian qualifying | Fourth place (2002) |
| Czechia | UEFA | 41 | European play-offs | Runners-up (1934, 1962, as Czechoslovakia) |
| South Africa | CAF | 60 | African qualifying | Group stage |
FIFA rankings reflect the April 2026 list. The next update lands June 9.
You can see the full roster for each nation here:
- Mexico World Cup squad 2026
- South Korea World Cup squad 2026
- Czechia World Cup squad 2026
- South Africa World Cup squad 2026
Group A World Cup 2026 Schedule
Group A plays six matches over two weeks. The opener is the first game of the whole World Cup. The final two matches kick off at the same time on June 24.
All times below are Eastern Time (ET).
| Date | Match | Kickoff (ET) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thu, June 11 | Mexico vs South Africa | 3:00 p.m. | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City |
| Thu, June 11 | South Korea vs Czechia | 10:00 p.m. | Estadio Akron, Guadalajara |
| Thu, June 18 | Czechia vs South Africa | 12:00 p.m. | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta |
| Thu, June 18 | Mexico vs 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 hosts the opener and a June 24 match. It holds 87,500 fans. FIFA lists it as Mexico City Stadium.
Schedule confirmed via FIFA, ESPN, and Fox Sports.
Want the full picture? See the complete World Cup 2026 schedule for all 104 matches.
World Cup 2026 Group A Standings
The standings below update live as results come in. The top two teams advance, plus the best third-placed team can reach the round of 32.
- Possible qualification (best 8 third-placed teams advance)
- Eliminated from tournament
FIFA changed the tiebreakers for 2026. If teams finish level on points, head-to-head results now come first. The order is head-to-head points, then head-to-head goal difference, then head-to-head goals scored. If teams are still level, FIFA uses overall goal difference, then overall goals scored, then the fair play record, and finally the FIFA ranking.
Group A Results
Group A results post here after each match.
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Czech Republic
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Mexico
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South Africa
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South Korea
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| 1 | Czech Republic | |||||
| 2 | Mexico | |||||
| 3 | South Africa | |||||
| 4 | South Korea |
How to Watch Group A World Cup 2026 in the US
You have clear options in both English and Spanish.
In English, watch on FOX and FS1. Select matches also stream free on Tubi, including the June 11 opener.
In Spanish, watch on Telemundo and Universo. You can stream the Spanish feed on Peacock.
Ready to watch? See our full World Cup 2026 live stream guide for every viewing option.
Who Will Win Group A?
Mexico is the favorite. The co-host plays two of three games at home, in Mexico City and Guadalajara. Home crowds and a short travel load both help.
South Korea is the second pick. Son Heung-min gives them a match-winner in any game. Czechia and South Africa will likely fight for third place and a possible knockout spot.
Forecasts point to Mexico and South Korea as the two most likely to advance. Football rarely follows the script, though, and one upset can shift the whole group.
FAQ About Group A World Cup 2026
Where do the Group A winner and runner-up play in the round of 32?
The Group A winner plays a third-placed team at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on June 30. The Group A runner-up faces the Group B runner-up at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on June 28. Both matches fall in the round of 32, the first knockout round of the 48-team tournament.
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 rank as the favorites, while Czechia and South Africa sit lower in the FIFA rankings. A true group of death needs several top-ranked sides, and Group A has none. Most analysts rate it as winnable.
What time do Group A matches start on the US West Coast?
Subtract three hours from the Eastern Time kickoff. The June 11 opener at 3 p.m. ET starts at 12 p.m. PT on the West Coast. The late games listed at 9 or 10 p.m. ET begin at 6 or 7 p.m. PT. Pacific viewers get convenient afternoon and evening start times.
When did Mexico and South Africa last meet at a World Cup?
They last met in the opening match of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. That game finished 1-1 in Johannesburg. The June 11, 2026 opener is a rematch of that fixture, this time on Mexican soil at Estadio Azteca. It is a notable full-circle moment for both nations.
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.
Why does Group A play the opening match of the 2026 World Cup?
Because co-host Mexico plays the opening game. By long-standing tradition, the host nation kicks off the World Cup. Mexico opens the 2026 tournament against South Africa on June 11 at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. As a result, all of Group A sits in the spotlight from day one.
Group A World Cup 2026 opens the tournament and sets the early tone. Mexico and South Korea carry the group’s spotlight, but every match matters once the games begin. Bookmark this page for live standings and results, and start with the June 11 opener on FOX.
