The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off on 11 June 2026 at the Mexico City Stadium, with hosts Mexico facing South Africa in a Group A opener that echoes the tournament's curtain-raiser from 2010. The group also features South Korea, making their record 12th World Cup appearance among Asian nations, and the Czech Republic, returning to football's biggest stage after a 20-year absence.

Mexico: hosts hunting a deeper run

Mexico are hosting the World Cup for a third time and will be looking to bounce back from the group-stage exit in Qatar, which ended a streak of seven consecutive Round of 16 appearances between 1994 and 2018. Their only quarterfinal runs came as hosts in 1970 and 1986.

Coach Javier Aguirre, in his third spell in charge since 2024, has built a side around pressing, intensity, and quick transitions rather than possession. Captain Edson Alvarez, fit again after an injury-hit season at Fenerbahce, will likely partner Cruz Azul's Erik Lira in midfield, with creativity from Gilberto Mora, Brian Gutierrez, and Alvaro Fidalgo.

Defensively, Johan Vasquez and Cesar Montes form a formidable centre-back pairing. Up front, the spotlight falls on Raul Jimenez, 35, whose recovery from a fractured skull sustained while playing for Wolverhampton Wanderers against Arsenal in 2020 remains one of the sport's notable comeback stories. He returned 9 Premier League goals and three assists for Fulham this season. The 17-year-old Mora, the youngest player ever to feature for the senior side, is tipped as the young talent to watch.

South Africa: Broos's quiet revolution

South Africa return to the World Cup for the first time since 2010, with all three previous appearances — 1998, 2002, and 2010 — ending in the group stage. Under Belgian coach Hugo Broos, appointed in 2021, Bafana Bafana have qualified for three consecutive major tournaments.

Qualification was secured despite a three-point deduction for fielding an ineligible player, with the side finishing a point ahead of Nigeria. The squad leans heavily on domestic-league talent and a counter-attacking template. Goalkeeper Ronwen Williams and Mamelodi Sundowns duo Teboho Mokoena and Khuliso Mudau anchor the spine, while Orlando Pirates forward Relebohile Mofokeng is the breakout name to watch.

South Korea: experience tempered by injury concerns

South Korea's 12th World Cup outing — more than any other Asian nation — comes on the back of an unbeaten qualifying campaign, but warm-up defeats to Cote d'Ivoire and Austria have raised concerns. Their fourth-place finish on home soil in 2002 remains their high-water mark.

Coach Hong Myung-bo faces a tactical dilemma between a back four and a 3-4-3 system, with fitness issues affecting Son Heung-min, Kim Min-jae, Lee Kang-in, Lee Jae-sung, and Hwang In-beom. Son, now at Los Angeles FC after his Tottenham stint, remains the talisman. Besiktas striker Oh Hyeon-gyu, at 1.87 metres, offers Hong a contrasting attacking option.

Czech Republic: organisation over flair

The Czech Republic's first World Cup since 2006 was sealed via a penalty-shootout win over Denmark in their March playoff. The side leans on physicality, set-piece threat, and organisation, with Tomas Soucek, captain Ladislav Krejci, and Bayer Leverkusen striker Patrik Schick forming the experienced spine.

The dismissal of coach Ivan Hasek last October after a shock loss to the Faroe Islands paved the way for 74-year-old Miroslav Koubek, who has restored stability. Logistics will be a hidden challenge — two group games sit at altitude in Mexico, while the team base is in Dallas. Lyon midfielder Pavel Sulc, 25, is the emerging name expected to raise his stock at the finals.

What's next

Group A's opening fixture on 11 June sets the tone for a tournament expanded to 48 teams. With Mexico chasing a long-awaited deep run and three other sides each carrying genuine knockout ambitions, this is shaping up as one of the more competitive opening groups of the 2026 edition.