World Cup 2026: Group A in focus
Co-hosts Mexico will face South Africa, Korea Republic and Czechia. Learn more about each team, their fixtures and who they could face in the Round of 32.
Mexico will host the FIFA World Cup™ for a record third time in their history in 2026. Unlike the 1970 and 1986 editions, however, they will not be the sole nation, as FIFA World Cup 2026™ duties are shared with Canada and the United States.
The Mexico national team has been drawn into Group A and will have the honour of kicking off the tournament against a CAF representative, South Africa. The group also includes a regular on the world stage from Asia, Korea Republic, as well as a UEFA participant, Czechia.
Confederation: Concacaf
Coach: Javier Aguirre
Best World Cup: Quarter-finals (1970 and 1986)
World Cup qualifications: 18 (1930, 1950, 1954, 1958, 1962, 1966, 1970, 1978, 1986, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, 2026)
Overall World Cup record: P60 W17 D15 L28 F62 A101
Mexico secured automatic qualification as a co-host nation, alongside Canada and the United States, following the FIFA Council decision on 14 February 2023.
Confederation: CAF
Coach: Hugo Broos
Best World Cup: Group stage (1998, 2002, 2010)
World Cup qualifications: 4 (1998, 2002, 2010, 2026)
Overall World Cup record: P9 W2 D4 L3 F11 A16
South Africa confirmed their return to the World Cup on 14 October, finishing top of CAF qualifying Group C, which also featured Nigeria (2nd) and Benin (3rd).
Confederation: Asian Football Confederation (AFC)
Coach: Hong Myungbo
Best World Cup: Fourth place (2002)
World Cup qualifications: 12 (1954, 1986, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, 2026)
Overall World Cup record: P38 W7 D10 L21 F39 A78
While not the first Asian nation to book their place, Korea Republic were the only team to remain unbeaten throughout AFC qualifying. After topping Group B ahead of Jordan, they sealed qualification with a 2-0 win in Iraq on 5 June 2025.
Confederation: UEFA
Coach: Miroslav Koubek
Best World Cup: Runners-up (1934, 1962)
World Cup qualifications: 10 (1934, 1938, 1954, 1958, 1962, 1970, 1982, 1990, 2006, 2026)
Overall World Cup record: P33 W12 D5 L16 F47 A49
Czechia competed as Czechoslovakia at World Cups from 1930-1994 and as Czech Republic from 1998-2014.
After finishing second in their UEFA qualifying group behind Croatia, Czechia saw their fate decided in the play-offs last March. In the semi-finals, Patrik Schick and his team-mates edged past the Republic of Ireland (2-2 AET, 4-3 on penalties) before securing another dramatic win against Denmark (2-2 AET, 3-1 on penalties), with both matches played in Prague.
Korea Republic will be appearing in their 11th consecutive World Cup. Only Germany, Argentina, Brazil and Spain have longer active streaks.
Prior to their group-stage exit at Qatar 2022, Mexico had set a record with seven consecutive Round of 16 eliminations.
South Africa will be competing in their fourth finals. The only time they failed to record a win was in their debut in 1998. Despite early exits, Bafana Bafana defeated Slovenia (1-0) in 2002 and France (2-1) in 2010.
Czechia are one of three teams to have reached at least two World Cup finals without ever lifting the trophy. Hungary also lost two finals (1938, 1954). The record for most final appearances without winning the title belongs to the Netherlands (1974, 1978, 2010).
The winners of Group A will face a third-place finisher from either Group C, E, F, H or I in Mexico City, while the runners-up will meet the Group B runners-up in Los Angeles. Should the third-placed team in the section qualify as one of the eight best, they will meet either the Group E or Group G winners in Boston or Seattle.