World Cup 2026
Group A
The matches in Group A of the 2026 World Cup will be played between June 11 and June 25, 2026. The group features host nation Mexico alongside South Africa, South Korea and the Czech Republic.
The opening match of the tournament will take place on June 11, 2026, at the iconic Azteca Stadium in Mexico City. Host nation Mexico will kick off the World Cup in front of its home fans against South Africa. The remaining group matches will be played in Mexico and the United States.
The top two teams in the group will qualify directly for the knockout stage. In addition, the third-placed team may also advance to the Round of 32 as one of the eight best third-placed teams across all groups. As a result, the battle for qualification is likely to remain intense right up to the final matchday of the group stage.
Participating Teams in Group A
| Pos. | Team | FIFA Ranking (1) | World Cup Appearances | Last World Cup Appearance | Best World Cup Result |
| A1 | Mexico | 14 | 18 | 2022 Group Stage |
Quarter-finals 1970, 1986 |
| A2 | South Africa | 60 | 3 | 2010 Group Stage |
Group Stage |
| A3 | South Korea | 25 | 12 | 2022 Round of 16 |
4th Place 2002 |
| A4 | Czechia | 39 | 1 | 2006 Group Stage |
Group Stage 2006 |
From the Group Stage to the Knockout Stage
The top two teams from each group qualify directly for the knockout stage of the 2026 World Cup. In addition, the eight best third-placed teams will also advance to the final rounds. This means that a total of 32 teams will progress to the knockout stage.
Unlike previous World Cups, the final tournament will begin with a Round of 32 for the first time. This will be followed by the Round of 16, Quarter-finals, Semi-finals, the Third-Place Play-off and the Final.
The following criteria are applied, in order, to rank the third-placed teams:
- Higher number of points earned in all group matches
- Superior goal difference
- Higher number of goals scored
- Lower Fair Play score
- FIFA World Ranking
- Drawing of lots by FIFA
Knockout Stage
With FIFA introducing twelve groups and a total of 48 teams for the first time, a new knockout bracket has been created. The twelve group winners, the twelve runners-up and the eight best third-placed teams will qualify for the Round of 32.
The exact knockout stage matchups depend on the final standings in Groups A to L as well as the ranking of the eight best third-placed teams. Therefore, the final pairings will only be confirmed once the group stage has been completed.
The knockout stage begins on June 28, 2026, with the Round of 32. It will then continue through the Round of 16, Quarter-finals and Semi-finals before concluding with the World Cup Final on July 19, 2026, at MetLife Stadium near New York City.
World Cup 2026
Group Standings
| Pl | W | D | Lost | Goals | +/- | Points | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Mexico | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2. | South Africa | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3. | South Korea | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4. | Czechia | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 | 0 |
World Cup 2026
Fixtures & Results
Thursday, 11.06.2026, 21:00 Uhr (CEST) in Mexico City
Mexico -:- South Africa
Friday, 12.06.2026, 04:00 Uhr (CEST) in Zapopan
South Korea -:- Czechia
Thursday, 18.06.2026, 18:00 Uhr (CEST) in Atlanta
Czechia -:- South Africa
Friday, 19.06.2026, 03:00 Uhr (CEST) in Zapopan
Mexico -:- South Korea
Thursday, 25.06.2026, 03:00 Uhr (CEST) in Guadalupe
South Africa -:- South Korea
Thursday, 25.06.2026, 03:00 Uhr (CEST) in Mexico City
Czechia -:- Mexico
References:
(1) FIFA (2026). FIFA/Coca Cola Men's World Ranking. Retrieved on June 05 2026, from https://inside.fifa.com/fifa-world-ranking/men