World Cup 2026: Group A Preview
- 5 days ago
- 5 min read
Mexico have only progressed as far as the quarterfinal stages twice in their World Cup history, but both times were on home soil. With the tournament on Mexican ground once again, can Raul Jiménez lead a revitalized group past their dreaded Round of 16 ceiling?
Mexico 🇲🇽
FIFA Rank: 15th
Qualified as: Hosts
The Skinny
Mexico have spent the better part of the 2020s playing second fiddle to the United States in their own continent, but may be experiencing a resurgence at the perfect time. They’ve settled into a groove under veteran manager Javier Aguirre having won the last two Gold Cups, which included beating the U.S. in a Final last summer for the first time since before the pandemic. El Tri have the chance to take center stage this tournament, as they kick off the 2026 World Cup on home soil, and will be the favorites to top a winnable group. Can the good form continue, or will the pressure be too much?
The Best XI
40-year old Guillermo Ochoa was called up yet again, but it’s expected the World Cup legend will mostly be there in a “player-manager” capacity, and Mexico will instead have a new face in goal for the first time in 20 years. That will most likely be Guadalajara’s Raúl Rangel, who would play behind a veteran CB pairing of César Montes and Genoa’s Johan Vásquez. “Veterans and new faces side by side” is kind of the theme of this whole squad, in fact. The fullbacks and midfield are full of young talent, including Atlético Madrid youngster and American dual-national Obed Vargas, which is why it will be key to have veteran captain Edson Álvarez anchoring the midfield amongst them. And up top, Mexico’s potential striker tandem is second to few at this tournament, between longtime Premier League veteran Raul Jiménez and young Milan star Santi Giménez.
South Africa 🇿🇦
FIFA Rank: 60th
Qualified as: Winners of CAF Group C
The Skinny
South Africa make their return to the biggest stage for the first time since their hosting stint in 2010, and just as they did in that tournament, they will play in the opening match against Mexico. Can they perform better than they did 16 years ago, when they became the first host nation to be eliminated at the group stage? As was the case then, expectations are low for Bafana Bafana, and they don’t have the benefit of home-field advantage (or deafening vuvuzelas) this time. That said, a surprisingly strong Africa Cup of Nations showing recently and an impressive qualifying campaign that saw them top a group that included Nigeria, show they’re not to be taken too lightly.
The Best XI
The vast majority of Bafana Bafana’s squad are based in the South African Premiership, and thus probably won’t be a household name to many watching, with the possible exception of Mamelodi Sundowns keeper Rowen Williams, who put on a breakout star performance in that Cup of Nations run. The few foreign-based players could play significant roles in the starting XI, though, with Portuguese-based Yaya Sithole and England-based Luke Le Roux in the midfield, and both a CB and striker pairing that match an English Championship player with an MLS player: Chicago Fire’s Mbokazi and QPR’s Tyson Smith at the back, and Minnesota United’s Hlongwane and Burnley star Foster at the top of the park.
South Korea 🇰🇷
FIFA Rank: 25th
Qualified as: Winners of AFC Group B
The Skinny
South Korea have been a constant at the World Cup in the 21st century, beginning with their co-hosting in 2002. They famously (or infamously, depending on who you ask) finished 4th place at that tournament, but in the 5 Cups since, the Taeguk Warriors have ping-ponged between group stage elimination and surprising knockout stage qualification, most recently reaching the Round of 16 in dramatic fashion(LINK) 4 years ago. In a group that feels wide open, and with a handful of players used to the biggest stage, they certainly could make some noise in this group and qualify for the knockout stages in successive tournaments for the first time in their history.
The Best XI
He may have left the Premier League now, but there’s no question Korea’s talisman is still star striker and captain Son Heung-min, who’s hoping to replicate last season's form with LAFC at these games. He’ll be flanked by an enviable amount of talent, including fellow Premier League vet Hwang Hee-chan, and of course, PSG mainstay and now two-time Champions League winner Lee Kang-in. Feyenoord stalwart Hwang In-beom and German dual-national Jens Castrop could prove a wholly capable double pivot in this system, and a young but talented back line has an obvious anchor in Bayern Munich’s Kim Min-jae.
Czechia 🇨🇿
FIFA Rank: 41st
Qualified as: 1st place in UEFA Group G
The Skinny
Czechia may (surprisingly) be the only nation in this group that has never hosted or co-hosted a World Cup, but they’re also (surprisingly) the only one of the four to ever play in a World Cup Final! Of course, the game has changed considerably since those 1934 and 1962 Czechoslovakia teams, and this iteration of Národ’ák is a far cry from those runners-up, or even from the 2006 side that entered the tournament in Germany ranked top 5 in the world. In other words, it’s a bit of a surprise this team even qualified for this tournament; but qualify they did, and through the meat-grinder that was European qualification plus an ensuing playoff, no less! With a veteran squad and many players that have played in the toughest leagues in the world, there’s no counting the Czechs out.
The Best XI
Like South Africa before them, Czechia’s side is predominantly domestic-based, but the exceptions amongst them will likely all play a big part if they are to go far at this tournament. Leverkusen striker Patrick Schick was one of the breakout stars of Euro 2021, amongst their surprise quarterfinal run, and he’ll be joined in attack by Lyon duo Adam Karabec and Pavel Šulć. Premier League veterans Vladimír Darida and Tomás Souček helm the defensive midfield, and two others, Vladimír Coufal (currently with Hoffenheim) and Ladislav Krejčí (Wolverhampton) will patrol the right side of the defense. Long gone are the days of Petr Čech in goal, of course, but in PSV starter Matěj Kovář, they should be in good hands between the sticks.
Group Schedule (all times ET)
6/11, 3 PM: Mexico v South Africa (Mexico City)
6/11, 10 PM: South Korea v Czechia (Guadalajara)
6/18, Noon: Czechia v South Africa (Atlanta)
6/18, 9 PM: Mexico v South Korea (Guadalajara)
6/24, 9 PM: Czechia v Mexico (Mexico City) / South Africa v South Korea (Monterrey)
Group Prediction
Each of the co-hosts’ groups feel wide open in different ways, but between their own quality and the respective quality of the opponents (not to mention the oppressive Mexican heat), I think I feel most confident in Mexico’s ability to top their group. I wouldn’t be surprised if South Korea snag a point off the hosts in their middle match between the emotions of the kickoff match against South Africa and the final group match in Mexico City against Czechia, but I have a hard time seeing El Tri falter in either of those. That point, if it happens, could prove crucial for Korea, as I anticipate the margins amongst them, Czechia, and South Africa to all be fairly slim.
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