World Cup Group A Betting Guide: Odds, Schedule & Preview
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is underway, with the expanded 48-team tournament taking place across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Group A is complete, with Mexico and South Africa advancing to the Round of 32, while the remaining groups are still being decided as teams battle to secure knockout-round berths.
2026 World Cup Group A Odds
There are a variety of Group A betting odds available at sportsbooks. In addition to Group A Winner bets, there are a range of prop bets that can often present greater betting value:
- Group Forecast
- To Win All Group Games
- To Qualify From Group
- To Lose All Group Games
- Group Runner-Up
- Group Third Place
- To Finish Bottom
Group Tiebreaker Rules
If two or more teams finish with the same number of points in the group stage, the standings are decided by the following criteria:
- Goal difference
- Total goals scored
- Points earned in head-to-head matches
- Goal difference in head-to-head matches
- Goals scored in head-to-head matches
- Fair play record
- Drawing of lots
2026 World Cup Group A Preview: Preview, Favorites & Qualification Scenarios
Co-hosts Mexico are the favorites to win Group A () while Czechia’s odds are second, and we expect this Group to follow the odds. South Korea, whilst they have a decent World Cup pedigree in recent tournaments, may do enough to earn a best third-place ranking, but it will be tough. The key fixture is Mexico vs. Czechia; whoever wins this game is likely to finish top of Group A.
World Cup Group A Schedule
Below, we’ve listed the Group A schedule for the World Cup 2026. Note that the final Group games will kick off simultaneously.
Matchday 1
- Thursday, June 11th: Mexico vs South Africa – 3 p.m. ET (Estadio Azteca, Mexico City)
- Thursday, June 11th: South Korea vs Czechia – 10 p.m. ET (Estadio Akron, Zapopan)
Matchday 2
- Thursday, June 18th: Czechia vs South Africa – 12 p.m. ET (Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta)
- Thursday, June 18th: Mexico vs South Korea – 9 p.m. ET (Estadio Akron, Zapopan)
Matchday 3
- Wednesday, June 24th: Czechia vs Mexico – 9 p.m. ET (Estadio Azteca, Mexico City)
- Wednesday, June 24th: South Africa vs South Korea – 9 p.m. ET (Estadio BBVA, Guadalupe)
World Cup Group A Team Profiles
Take a look below at our Team Profiles for each country in Group A, including information on form, key players, and how they qualified for the 2026 World Cup.
Mexico
As a co-host of the 2026 World Cup, Mexico will be looking to build on its success after winning the CONCACAF Gold Cup last year. With their 10th CONCACAF title, hopes are high in the Mexico camp that they can take their good form into their World Cup campaign. All three Group games will be held on home soil, with two at their national stadium, Estadio Azteca. Playing in front of a home crowd could make all the difference.
Mexico failed to advance past the Group Stage in 2022. They also haven’t reached the quarterfinal stage since they hosted the World Cup in 1986. However, since their Gold Cup win, Mexico have lost just two of their 11 friendly games, picking up impressive draws against Belgium and Portugal, along with a comprehensive 4-0 win over Iceland, along the way.
- Key Players: Johan Vasquez, Gilberto Mora
South Africa
South Africa qualified for this tournament after finishing top of their CAF (Confederation of African Football) qualification group. They only won five of their qualification matches, though, and find themselves in a tough Group A for this year’s World Cup.
This is only the fourth time South Africa has ever qualified for the World Cup, and the first since the nation hosted the tournament in 2010. They’ve never progressed out of the Group Stage, and it’s unlikely they’ll do so this time around either.
The South Africans will look at the South Korea game to pick up points, but they’ll find it extremely tough against Mexico and Czechia. Third place is likely to be the best they can hope for, though we think they’ll finish bottom of Group A.
- Key Players: Lyle Foster, Relebohile Mofokeng
South Korea
This is the 10th consecutive World Cup tournament South Korea has qualified for. However, qualifying for the Knockout Stages in 2026 is a tough task. They reached the Knockout Stages in 2022 but have failed to progress any further than this since their semifinal appearance in 2002.
While they breezed through AFC (Asian Football Confederation) qualification, coming up against Mexico and Czechia will be much more difficult. To have any chance of getting through, they will certainly need to beat South Africa.
- Key Players: Son Heung-min, Lee Kang-in
Czechia
Czechia had to rely on a penalty shootout in the UEFA (Union of European Football Associations) playoffs to qualify for this tournament. Defeating Denmark on penalties in the Path D Final, Miroslav Loubek’s men didn’t have the most convincing qualifying campaign.
However, what they do possess is a huge attacking threat, particularly in Bayer Leverkusen striker Patrick Schick. This should be enough to see them comfortably qualify for the Knockout Stages, though we don’t expect them to go much further than that.
This is just the first time Czechia has qualified for a World Cup tournament since 2006.
- Key Players: Patrick Schick, Tomas Soucek
Group A Winner Prediction: Mexico
It’s very difficult to look past Mexico to win Group A. On home soil for all three Group games, along with a squad featuring a mix of experience and up-and-coming talent, we can’t see any of their Group A competitors coming close to top spot.
Group A Prop Bet: Mexico to Win All Group Games (+500 at DraftKings)
As you’ve seen, we expect Mexico to comfortably win Group A, so much so that we expect them to win all three matches. Czechia is likely to be the most difficult opponent of the three, but Mexico should have enough to dispatch them.
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World Cup Group A betting FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions related to Group A:
Who is the favorite to win Group A?
Mexico is the clear favorite to win Group A (). All three Group games are on home soil, so we imagine a roaring home crowd, coupled with a squad full of experience and talent, will be enough to see them win the Group comfortably.
What players should I look out for in Group A?
Mexico’s Gilberto Mora is one we’re looking forward to seeing in action. The 17-year-old performed exceptionally well in the U-20 World Cup last year, scoring three and assisting two in his five games. Son Heung-min for South Korea is their man most likely. Patrick Shchick with Czechia will need to be in good form if his side is to progress; similarly, South Africa will need their star man, Lyle Foster, to find the net if they’re to stand any chance of progressing.
