World Cup Group A Preview: Betting Predictions & Team Analysis

The 2026 World Cup begins on Thursday, June 11, with two Group A fixtures taking place in Mexico. While this section of the draw includes one of the tournament’s host nations, Group A is still considered one of the least imposing groups in the new 48-team format. The World Cup soccer futures reflect that view, as every team in the group is listed at 60-1 or longer to lift the trophy.

Odds to Win Group A

Mexico +105
Czechia +230
South Korea +350
South Africa +1350

Mexico enter Group A as the clear team to beat. El Tri reached the knockout stage in seven straight World Cups from 1994 to 2018 before seeing that streak end in Qatar, where a scoreless draw against Poland in their opener ultimately proved costly. As co-hosts, Mexico will have a major advantage during the Group Stage, playing all three matches on home soil, including two games at the legendary Estadio Azteca.

Odds to Win World Cup for Group A Teams

Mexico +9000
Czechia +40000
South Korea +45000
South Africa +150000

The betting market is not especially optimistic about any team in Group A. Mexico have the shortest title price in the group, but their 90-1 odds still place them behind many other contenders. None of the four nations have ever won the World Cup, though Czechia’s football history includes two runner-up finishes as Czechoslovakia in 1934 and 1962.

Match Schedule

Group A Team Previews

Mexico

Mexico will head into the World Cup without starting goalkeeper Luis Angel Malagon. He suffered a torn ACL during a CONCACAF Champions League match in March and is expected to be sidelined for at least six months. Raul Rangel of Guadalajara handled goalkeeping duties during Mexico’s March friendlies against Portugal and Belgium, while Santos Laguna’s Carlos Acevedo also remains an option with six international caps.

Malagon’s absence could open the door for Guillermo Ochoa to chase a historic milestone. Ochoa is already one of only five players to have featured in five World Cups, and an appearance in June would make him the first player ever to participate in six editions of the tournament. The veteran goalkeeper was brought back into the squad once Malagon was ruled out, but a starting role still feels unlikely since he will be 41 in July and currently plays club football in Cyprus.

Mexico’s defense brings plenty of experience. Cesar Montes of Lokomotiv Moscow and Johan Vasquez of Genoa are expected to anchor the back line, while Jesus Gallardo offers the most international experience among defenders with 118 caps. Former Ajax defender Jorge Sanchez has also been a regular part of the lineup recently.

The bigger concern for Mexico comes in midfield. Luis Romo has been slowed by injuries and could miss the tournament, while Marcel Ruiz is already ruled out because of a knee issue. Diego Lainez has not appeared for the national team since January, despite Javier Aguirre recently leaning heavily on Liga MX-based squads. Captain Edson Alvarez is another question mark after undergoing ankle surgery in February. On the positive side, 17-year-old Gilberto Mora appears ready to contribute after receiving clearance in April.

Those injuries have left Mexico with some uncertainty in the center of the pitch. Four midfielders with at least 20 caps were part of the late-March friendly squad, but Orbelin Pineda is the only proven attacking presence among them. The AEK Athens midfielder has scored 12 goals in 90 appearances for El Tri.

Raul Jimenez is expected to lead the Mexican attack. The Fulham striker has produced 44 goals in 123 national team appearances and remains effective even as he approaches his 35th birthday shortly before the World Cup. However, there are still questions about the rest of the forward group, especially with Hirving Lozano not being called into the national team since November.

Czechia

Czechia have struggled to reestablish themselves as a major World Cup force since the split of Czechoslovakia into Czechia and Slovakia. This will be only their second World Cup appearance since 1990. Their lone tournament win in that span came in 2006, when they opened with a convincing 3-0 victory over the United States before losing 2-0 to both Ghana and Italy and exiting in the Group Stage.

Goalkeeper is one area where Czechia lack extensive international experience. Matej Kovar has just 19 caps, but his club résumé includes time with Manchester United, Bayer Leverkusen, and PSV. He has been PSV’s first-choice goalkeeper this season and played an important role in helping the club secure a third consecutive Eredivisie title.

Ladislav Krejci, the new captain, may not be the most capped defender in the squad, but he delivered one of the most important moments of qualifying by scoring in extra time against Denmark to help send Czechia to the World Cup. Vladimir Coufal of TSG Hoffenheim is the most experienced defender with 61 caps, and Robin Hranac, who also plays alongside Coufal at club level and internationally, is expected to feature in the Starting XI.

Tomas Soucek remains one of the most important players in the squad despite losing the captaincy in November after Czechia failed to acknowledge the home supporters following a win over Gibraltar. Any speculation that Miroslav Koubek could leave him out was quickly dismissed when Soucek played all 120 minutes against Denmark and converted in the penalty shootout. He is the most experienced player on the team with 89 caps and has scored 17 goals for his country.

Patrik Schick is Czechia’s biggest attacking weapon. The Bayer Leverkusen forward has scored 25 times in 52 matches for the national team and will be the main player opposing defenses focus on. Beyond Schick, Czechia’s forward options are less proven, with most likely callups playing domestically and lacking a strong international scoring record.

South Korea

South Korea are set for their 10th straight World Cup appearance. The Taegeuk Warriors famously reached the semifinals in 2002 and also advanced beyond the Group Stage in 2010 and 2022. Their most recent knockout-round appearance ended badly, though, as Brazil cruised to a 4-1 win after scoring four goals in the first 36 minutes.

Son Heung-min remains the face of South Korean soccer. He is the most capped player in the nation’s history and is just five goals away from becoming South Korea’s all-time leading scorer. While his peak years may be behind him, he is still a vital creator and leader. Tottenham supporters have been eager to see him return amid the club’s relegation battle, and he has also shown his playmaking ability during his time in MLS. No other player called up over the past year has more than 16 international goals.

South Korea also have quality in midfield. Lee Kang-in appears to be the next major star for the national team, with 11 goals in 46 appearances. He also plays regular minutes for Paris Saint-Germain, the reigning European champions. Lee Jae-sung brings more than 100 caps of experience, while Hwang Hee-chan gives the team another dangerous option capable of creating chances and stretching defenses.

South Africa

South Africa enter the 2026 World Cup as the biggest longshot in Group A. Bafana Bafana were knocked out in the Round of 16 at the Africa Cup of Nations in January and failed to beat Panama in two home friendlies in late March. This will be their fourth World Cup appearance, but they have yet to advance beyond the Group Stage and have only two wins in their previous three trips.

Much of South Africa’s squad is expected to be made up of players from domestic clubs. With only a few players competing in major European leagues, there is still plenty of uncertainty surrounding how the team will measure up against stronger international opposition. Lyle Foster is likely to be the main attacking threat after scoring 10 goals in 26 appearances for South Africa. Bongokuhle Hlongwane of Minnesota United is another name to watch in the attack, while Hannover 96 defender Ime Okon looks like one of the more promising young pieces in the squad.