Group A: Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Czech Republic. Co-hosts Mexico open the tournament and will expect to top a group without a true heavyweight, but South Korea and the Czech Republic both travel with real bite.
Key stats of each team
Below are numbers from each team's recent matches, computed from the ScanGoal database. Each card ends with auto-insights — what stands out in the data.
Mexico last 12 months · 20 matches| Goals for/game | 1.4 |
| Goals against/game | 0.6 |
| xG for/game | 1.1 |
| xG against/game | 0.5 |
| Over 2.5 goals | 30% |
| Both teams score | 30% |
| Corners/game | 4.3 |
| Yellow cards/game | 1.9 |
| Shots on target/game | 4.1 |
- tilts under: under 2.5 goals in 70% of games
- a tight defence — just 0.6 conceded per game
- often one-sided for goals: both teams score in just 30%
South Africa last 12 months · 15 matches| Goals for/game | 1.3 |
| Goals against/game | 0.9 |
| xG for/game | 1.0 |
| xG against/game | 0.8 |
| Over 2.5 goals | 47% |
| Both teams score | 53% |
| Corners/game | 4.6 |
| Yellow cards/game | 2.0 |
| Shots on target/game | 4.6 |
- out-finishing their xG
South Korea last 12 months · 15 matches| Goals for/game | 1.5 |
| Goals against/game | 0.9 |
| xG for/game | 1.1 |
| xG against/game | 0.6 |
| Over 2.5 goals | 40% |
| Both teams score | 13% |
| Corners/game | 4.9 |
| Yellow cards/game | 1.1 |
| Shots on target/game | 3.9 |
- tilts under: under 2.5 goals in 60% of games
- often one-sided for goals: both teams score in just 13%
- disciplined — only 1.1 yellows per game
- out-finishing their xG
Czech Republic last 12 months · 13 matches| Goals for/game | 1.7 |
| Goals against/game | 1.1 |
| xG for/game | 1.6 |
| xG against/game | 1.1 |
| Over 2.5 goals | 54% |
| Both teams score | 69% |
| Corners/game | 5.2 |
| Yellow cards/game | 0.8 |
| Shots on target/game | 4.6 |
- goals at both ends — BTTS in 69% of games
- disciplined — only 0.8 yellows per game
Form going in
Mexico — recent form DWWWWW| 19.06.26 | Mexico1:0xG 0.5 : 0.7South Korea | World Cup 2026 |
| 11.06.26 | Mexico2:0xG 1.4 : 0.1South Africa | World Cup 2026 |
| 05.06.26 | Mexico5:1xG 2.1 : 0.5Serbia | International Match |
| 31.05.26 | Mexico1:0xG 0.4 : 0.6Australia | Friendlies |
| 22.05.26 | Mexico2:0xG 1.3 : 0.2Ghana | International Friendly |
| 01.04.26 | Mexico1:1Belgium | Friendlies |
South Africa — recent form DLDWLD| 18.06.26 | Czech Republic1:1xG 1.0 : 1.4South Africa | World Cup 2026 |
| 11.06.26 | Mexico2:0xG 1.4 : 0.1South Africa | World Cup 2026 |
| 07.06.26 | Jamaica0:1South Africa | International Match |
| 29.05.26 | South Africa0:0Nicaragua | International Match |
| 31.03.26 | South Africa1:2Panama | International Match |
| 27.03.26 | South Africa1:1Panama | Friendlies |
Who goes through
Mexico have the crowd, the schedule and the depth — they should win the group. The second ticket is a coin-flip between South Korea, carried by their attacking output, and a Czech side that defends in a block. South Africa are the outsiders but are not a pushover.
Dark horse & possible upset
South Korea are the dark horse to win the group outright: their goal numbers (see the cards above) are the best in the section. If Mexico stumble in the opener under pressure, the whole group opens up.
Squads: call-ups & shocks
Mexico's Javier Aguirre blended experience and youth for the home tournament: veteran keeper Guillermo Ochoa heads to a record-equalling World Cup and Raúl Jiménez leads the line. The talking points were the omissions — Liga MX standouts Carlos Rodríguez (fresh off Cruz Azul's title) and Marcel Ruiz both missed out, the latter managing a knee issue. Source: beIN Sports.
Betting angles
Mexico games trend toward goals at one end and tight cards control; South Korea's profile points to overs. Group-winner and team-totals are the markets to watch here.
Remember: totals, corners and cards are markets where our national-team data is most useful. Cross-check live odds and our Value Picks of the day; the handicap mechanics are covered in our Asian handicap guide.
Analysis only. Betting is 18+, please gamble responsibly.