When is the World Cup 2026 opening match?

The opening match takes place Thursday, June 11, 2026, at 3:00 PM ET. Mexico hosts South Africa at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.

When is the World Cup 2026 final?

The final takes place Sunday, July 19, 2026, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Kick-off time will be confirmed closer to the date based on participating teams.

How many matches are at World Cup 2026?

104 matches in total. 72 group stage matches (12 groups of 4 teams) and 32 knockout matches (from Round of 32 through to the Final).

Where can I watch World Cup 2026?

In the US: Fox (English) and Telemundo (Spanish). In the UK: BBC and ITV. Globally: FIFA+, DAZN, and regional broadcasters.

What is the new World Cup 2026 format?

First time ever: 48 teams (up from 32) divided into 12 groups of 4. Top 2 from each group advance, plus the 8 best third-place teams. Total of 32 teams advance to the knockout stage.

What was the last meeting between Mexico and South Africa?

The 2010 World Cup opener ended 1-1 - Tshabalala's iconic strike and Rafael Marquez equalizer. Now 16 years later, the same teams meet again in the WC 2026 opener at Azteca.

Who are the key Mexico players to watch?

Guillermo Ochoa (40, GK, chasing 6 World Cups record), Raul Jimenez (35, striker, one goal from joint-2nd all-time scorer), Edson Alvarez (Captain, 99th cap), Gilberto Mora (17, teen sensation).

World Cup 2026 Schedule: All 104 Matches, Groups & Dates

FIFA WORLD CUP 2026 · MD1 · GROUP A · OPENING MATCH ⚡ TONIGHT · 3PM ET / 10PM IST

Mexico vs South Africa Prediction · Betting Tips · Lineups · AI Analysis

MEXICO

FIFA #14 · Co-Host · 18th WC

FORM: D D W W W (PPG 2.10)

S.AFRICA

FIFA #60 · 4th WC · Bafana Bafana

FORM: W L D L D (PPG 1.50)

📅 Thursday, June 11, 2026 · 3:00 PM ET · 🏟️ Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
🎟️ Capacity: 83,000 (sell-out) · 👨‍⚖️ Referee: Wilton Sampaio 🇧🇷 · 🌡️ 18°C clear · 📺 ITV1/FOX/Zee5/SBS

🇲🇽 MEXICO WIN

68%

@ 1.40

⚖️ DRAW

20%

@ 4.50

🇿🇦 S.AFRICA WIN

12%

@ 7.30

⚽ BTTS YES PROBABILITY45%

Chance both teams score a goal

📊 xG DATA & ADVANCED STATS

🇲🇽 Mexico

xG (For): 1.38
xGA (Against): 0.82
PPG: 2.10
Clean Sheets: 70%
Possession: 58%
Shots/Match: 11.8

🇿🇦 South Africa

xG (For): 1.76
xGA (Against): 0.73
PPG: 1.50
Clean Sheets: 30%
Possession: 66%
Shots/Match: 15.1

xG = goals expected to score · xGA = goals expected to concede · PPG = points won per game

📅 RECENT FORM · LAST 5 MATCHES

🇲🇽 Mexico

vs Serbia 🇷🇸 5-1 W

vs Australia 🇦🇺 1-0 W

vs Ghana 🇬🇭 2-0 W

vs Belgium 🇧🇪 1-1 D

vs Portugal 🇵🇹 0-0 D

🇿🇦 South Africa

vs Nicaragua 🇳🇮 0-0 D

vs Panama 🇵🇦 1-2 L

vs Panama 🇵🇦 1-1 D

vs Cameroon 🇨🇲 1-2 L

vs Zimbabwe 🇿🇼 3-2 W

⚔️ PREDICTED LINEUPS · 4-3-3 vs 4-3-3

🇲🇽 MEXICO XI

GK: Ochoa
DEF: Sanchez · Montes · Alvarez (C) · Gallardo
MID: Gutierrez · Fidalgo · Pineda
ATT: Alvarado · Jimenez · Quinones

🇿🇦 S.AFRICA XI

GK: Williams
DEF: Mudau · Mbokazi · Okon · Modiba
MID: Mbatha · Sithole · Mokoena
ATT: Appollis · Foster · Moremi

⭐ STAR PLAYERS TO WATCH

🇲🇽 MEXICO STARS

🧤 G. Ochoa (40, GK)
→ Chasing 6 World Cups record 🎯 R. Jimenez (35, ST)
→ 1 goal from joint-2nd all-time (46G) ⚡ J. Quinones (ST)
→ Saudi PL Golden Boot 25/26 (33G) 🦅 E. Alvarez (Captain, CB)
→ 99th international cap ✨ G. Mora (17, AM)
→ Teen sensation, may start

🇿🇦 S.AFRICA STARS

🎯 L. Foster (Burnley, ST)
→ Scored in 1-1 vs Jamaica ⚡ O. Appollis (Orlando Pirates)
→ 6 G+A in qualifying 🛡️ M. Mbokazi (CB)
→ Defensive anchor 🧤 R. Williams (GK)
→ Starting custodian 🏃 A. Modiba (LB)
→ Back from hamstring ✓

🏥 INJURIES, SUSPENSIONS & TEAM NEWS

🇲🇽 MEXICO FITNESS

🟡 C. Montes (CB) — minor knock, played 90' vs Serbia
🟡 L. Chavez (MID) — fitness watch
🟡 A. Vega (FW) — returned to action
🟡 E. Alvarez (CB) — played through discomfort
🟢 Ochoa vs Rangel — open GK battle
🟢 No suspensions

🇿🇦 S.AFRICA STATUS

🟢 A. Modiba (LB) — back from hamstring, full training ✓
🟢 M. Mbokazi (CB) — fit
🟢 I. Okon (CB) — fit
🟢 No major absentees
⚠️ Broos: "not what I expected" form
🟢 No suspensions

📜 HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY

Jun 11, 2010 · WC Opener SA 1-1 MEX

Jul 26, 2005 · Gold Cup SA 2-1 MEX

⚡ THE NARRATIVE: Exact 16-year reverse of the 2010 opener (Tshabalala's iconic strike + Marquez equalizer). Mexico STILL haven't beaten South Africa!

🎩 MANAGER BATTLE

JAVIER AGUIRRE 🇲🇽

Age 67 · 3rd Mexico stint
Appointed 2024
ALSO managed Mexico in 2010 WC opener vs SA
Won 2024 Nations League + 2025 Gold Cup

HUGO BROOS 🇧🇪

Age 73 · SA boss since 2021
Won AFCON 2017 (Cameroon)
Pragmatic 4-3-3 / 4-2-3-1 counter-attack
Topped CAF qualifying W5 D3 L2

🤖 GOALORACLE AI · DEEP ANALYSIS

🎬 The 2010 Reverse: Exactly 16 years to the day after Tshabalala's iconic strike united a nation at Johannesburg's Soccer City. Now reversed at Estadio Azteca — the first stadium in WC history to host 3 openers (1970 Pelé era, 1986 Maradona era, 2026). Aguirre managed Mexico in 2010 too. Ochoa — the only player on either roster who made BOTH 2010 + 2026 squads — was benched 16 years ago. Now 40, he chases history as the first to play 6 WCs.

🇲🇽 Mexico's Form Spike: 8 unbeaten friendlies in 2026 with a stunning 5-1 thrashing of Serbia, 1-0 over Australia, 2-0 vs Ghana. 6 clean sheets in last 8 games — a defensive turnaround that vindicates Aguirre's third stint. Unbeaten in their LAST 7 WC openers since 1994 (W5 D2). The 83,000 Azteca crowd should produce one of football's most hostile atmospheres.

🇿🇦 South Africa Under Pressure: A 4-match winless streak heading in. Broos publicly admitted recent 1-1 vs Jamaica was "not what I expected". Ranked 60th vs Mexico's 14th. Their qualification was helped by Nigeria upsetting Benin, plus a 3-point deduction for fielding an ineligible player.

🎯 Our Read: Statistical edge clearly Mexico's (0.4 conceded/match at home vs SA's 1.0 conceded away). Mexico Win to Nil plausible at 2.30. Sports Mole agrees: Mexico 2-1 South Africa. Watch for late SA consolation per their 2nd-half scoring trend.

🎯 3 AI-RECOMMENDED PICKS

✓Mexico to Win

Home advantage · 8-game unbeaten · 70% CS rate · Unbeaten in 7 WC openers since '94

1.40

✓Over 1.5 Goals

Combined xG 3.14 · Mexico scored in 80% last 10 · SA scored in 9 of last 11

1.40

✓Mexico Win to Nil

VALUE PICK · SA scoring uncertain vs Mexico's 0.4 conceded/match at home · 70% CS

~2.30

🎯 OVER 2.5 GOALS PROBABILITY45%

Chance of 3+ total goals in the match

❓ FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: Who will win Mexico vs South Africa?
A: Mexico are heavy favorites at 1.40 (68% AI probability). Home advantage + 8-game unbeaten streak.

Q: What time does Mexico vs South Africa kick off?
A: 3:00 PM ET / 8:00 PM BST / 10:00 PM IST on Thursday, June 11, 2026 at Estadio Azteca.

Q: What was the last meeting between these teams?
A: 2010 World Cup opener — 1-1 draw, with Tshabalala scoring an iconic opener for SA.

Q: Will Raul Jimenez start for Mexico?
A: Yes — likely leading the line. One goal makes him joint-2nd Mexico's all-time scorer (46G).

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FIFA WORLD CUP 2026 · MD1 · GROUP A ⏰ THU 9PM ET / FRI 5AM IST

South Korea vs Czech Republic Prediction · Betting Tips · Lineups · AI Analysis

S.KOREA

FIFA #25 · 12th WC · Taegeuk Warriors

FORM: W L L W W (PPG 1.90)

CZECHIA

FIFA #38 · First WC in 20 years

FORM: W D D W W (PPG 1.90)

📅 Thursday, June 11, 2026 · 9:00 PM ET · 🏟️ Estadio Akron, Guadalajara
🎟️ Capacity: 49,500 · ⛰️ Elevation: 2,000m · 📺 ITV4/FOX/Tubi

🇰🇷 KOREA WIN

38%

@ 2.53

⭐ TOP PICK

⚖️ DRAW

30%

@ 3.10

🇨🇿 CZECH WIN

32%

@ 2.75

⚽ BTTS YES PROBABILITY35%

Chance both teams score a goal

📊 xG DATA & ADVANCED STATS

🇰🇷 South Korea

xG (For): 1.19
xGA (Against): 1.11
PPG: 1.90
Clean Sheets: 60%
Possession: 55%
Shots/Match: 9.9

🇨🇿 Czech Republic

xG (For): 1.57
xGA (Against): 1.16
PPG: 1.90
Clean Sheets: 40%
Possession: 53%
Shots/Match: 13.2

xG = goals expected to score · xGA = goals expected to concede · PPG = points won per game

📅 RECENT FORM · LAST 5 MATCHES

🇰🇷 South Korea

vs El Salvador 🇸🇻 1-0 W

vs Trinidad 🇹🇹 5-0 W

vs Austria 🇦🇹 0-1 L

vs Ivory Coast 🇨🇮 0-4 L

vs Ghana 🇬🇭 1-0 W

🇨🇿 Czech Republic

vs Guatemala 🇬🇹 3-1 W

vs Kosovo 🇽🇰 2-1 W

vs Denmark 🇩🇰 2-2 D

vs Ireland 🇮🇪 2-2 D

vs Gibraltar 🇬🇮 6-0 W

⚔️ PREDICTED LINEUPS · 4-2-3-1 vs 3-4-2-1

🇰🇷 KOREA XI

GK: Kim Seung-gyu
DEF: Lee Ki-hyeok · Kim Min-jae · Lee Han-beom · Seol Young-woo
MID: Hwang In-beom · Paik Seung-ho · Lee Tae-seok
ATT: Hwang Hee-chan · Lee Jae-sung · Son Heung-min (C)

🇨🇿 CZECH XI

GK: Kovar
DEF: Chaloupek · Hranac · Krejci (C) · Coufal
MID: Cerv · Soucek · Jurasek
ATT: Provod · Sulc · Schick

⭐ STAR PLAYERS TO WATCH

🇰🇷 KOREA STARS

🎯 Son Heung-min (C, FW)
→ 2 goals from Korea's all-time record ⚡ Lee Kang-in (PSG)
→ Top creative midfielder 🛡️ Kim Min-jae (Bayern)
→ World-class defender, anchors back-3 ⚡ Hwang Hee-chan
→ Pacy winger, EPL experience 🎯 Lee Jae-sung
→ Class from Mainz

🇨🇿 CZECH STARS

🎯 Patrik Schick (Bayer)
→ 6 tournament goals, 5 in qualifying ⚡ Pavel Sulc
→ Main creator 🛡️ Tomas Soucek (West Ham)
→ Veteran MF, lost armband recently 🦅 Ladislav Krejci (C)
→ Anchors back-3 🧤 Matej Kovar
→ Penalty shootout hero in playoffs

🏥 INJURIES & TEAM NEWS

🇰🇷 KOREA FITNESS

🔴 Cho Yu-min (DEF) — foot injury, OUT
🟢 Joo Wi-jae — called up to replace
🟢 Son Heung-min — fit and ready
🟢 Kim Min-jae — fit
🟢 Squad mostly at full strength

🇨🇿 CZECH FITNESS

🟢 Schick (FW) — fit
🟢 Soucek (MF) — fit (lost armband)
🟢 Sulc — fit
🟢 No absences
🔥 6 wins in a row!

📜 HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY

Jun 5, 2016 · Friendly CZE 1-2 KOR

⚡ NARRATIVE: Only ever meeting - Korea won 2-1, but that was 10 years ago. Today's Czech team is very different - on a 6-game winning streak!

🎩 MANAGER BATTLE

HONG MYUNG-BO 🇰🇷

Captain of 2002 World Cup heroes
Leading Korea to WC for 2nd time as boss
2014 fired after group stage exit
Unbeaten in qualifying (W11 D5)

MIROSLAV KOUBEK 🇨🇿

Age 74 · Vast experience
Replaced Hasek after 2-1 loss to Faroes
Won Ireland + Denmark on penalties
6 wins on the trot in charge

🤖 GOALORACLE AI · DEEP ANALYSIS

🇰🇷 Korea's 12th WC: 11 consecutive WCs (most of any AFC nation). The Taegeuk Warriors went unbeaten through AFC qualifying (W11 D5, 40 goals). After authoritative 5-0 vs Trinidad and 1-0 vs El Salvador in WC warm-ups, they're ready. Hong Myung-bo, captain of the legendary 2002 squad, brings them to a global stage without the home pressure he had then.

🇨🇿 Czechia's 6-Game Streak: Massive momentum! After 20 years away from the World Cup, they return under the radar but dangerous. Half their qualifying goals came from set pieces. The squad is physical and dominant in aerial duels. After dramatic playoff wins (TWO penalty shootouts) they play with house money.

⚔️ The Stats: Both PPG 1.90 - dead even. Czechia edge xG (1.57 vs 1.19) but Korea more defensively solid (60% clean sheets). 2,000m elevation in Guadalajara doesn't favor either side. Son chases a 40-year-old record - 2 goals from Cha Bum-kun's Korea record (58 goals).

🎯 Our Read: A cagey first-up match where neither side wants to lose. Sports Mole predicts: 1-1 draw. Under 3.5 Goals at 1.25 is excellent value - only 50% Over 2.5 probability. Double Chance X2 (Draw or Czech) covers both likely scenarios.

🎯 3 AI-RECOMMENDED PICKS

✓Draw (Sports Mole: 1-1)

Equal PPG · Both cautious in WC opener · Defensive solidity from both

3.10

✓Under 3.5 Goals

VALUE PICK · Excellent 1.25 odds · Only 50% Over 2.5 · 60% Under 3.5

1.25

✓Double Chance X2 (Draw or Czech)

Czech on 6-game win streak · Higher xG · Covers both likely scenarios

~1.50

🎯 OVER 2.5 GOALS PROBABILITY50%