Group A brings together Mexico, South Korea, Czechia and South Africa. Mexico enter as hosts and heavy favourites, backed by enormous home support. South Korea arrive with a golden generation that reached the semi-finals on home soil in 2002. Czechia are experienced European campaigners, while South Africa make history as the first African nation to qualify for a World Cup hosted in the Americas.

🇲🇽 Mexico

Mexico have appeared in 17 World Cups and twice reached the quarter-finals (1970, 1986), both on home soil. They have been eliminated in the Round of 16 in their last 7 consecutive World Cups — a record they will desperately want to break in 2026 as hosts.

🇰🇷 South Korea

South Korea reached the semi-finals at the 2002 World Cup which they co-hosted with Japan. They have qualified for 11 consecutive World Cups and reached the Round of 16 in both 2010 and 2022, establishing themselves as Asia's most consistent World Cup nation.

🇨🇿 Czechia

Competing as Czechoslovakia, this nation finished runners-up at the World Cup in 1934 and 1962. As the Czech Republic and later Czechia, they have been a consistent European presence without replicating those historic peaks from the golden era of Central European football.

🇿🇦 South Africa

South Africa hosted the 2010 World Cup — the first held on African soil — but were eliminated in the group stage as host nation, the first time in history this had happened. Their 2026 qualification marks a return to the tournament after a 16-year absence.