The battle in Group A of the 2026 FIFA World Cup has entered its decisive stage. Mexico has already secured a place in the Round of 32 after recording back-to-back victories. Now, one remaining automatic qualification spot is still being contested by South Korea, the Czech Republic, and South Africa.
The team that will join Mexico in the knockout stage will be determined following the matches between South Korea and South Africa at Monterrey Stadium in Guadalupe, and the Czech Republic against Mexico in Mexico City. Both matches will kick off simultaneously at 8:00 a.m. WIB on Thursday, June 25, 2026.
After two matches, Mexico leads Group A with six points, followed by South Korea in second place with three points. The Czech Republic and South Africa sit third and fourth respectively, each with one point.
Occupying second place, South Korea is considered the favorite to accompany Mexico into the Round of 32. A draw would actually be enough for the Taeguk Warriors to advance. However, the squad coached by Hong Myung-bo insists it will not approach the match against South Africa with a defensive mindset.
That message was emphasized by South Korean defender Lee Han-beom.
“We are not thinking about a draw. We will try to win the match no matter what happens. Our goal is to win and go as far as possible in the tournament,” he said, as quoted by Yonhap.
South Korea’s strength lies in the quality of its individual players. Names such as Son Heung-min, Lee Kang-in, Hwang Hee-chan, and Kim Min-jae provide balance from defense to attack. Lee Han-beom remains optimistic that his team can achieve a positive result against South Africa.
South Korea head coach Hong Myung-bo confirmed that following the defeat to Mexico, he immediately began preparing a specific strategy to overcome South Africa.
“South Africa is a team equipped with very good transitional speed,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Czech Republic must also win its final group-stage match to keep its hopes of reaching the Round of 32 alive. As a result, Miroslav Koubek’s side is expected to adopt an attacking approach from the outset. They will rely on the finishing ability of Patrik Schick and the midfield dominance of Tomas Soucek.
However, the challenge facing the Czechs is enormous. Mexico has been impressive throughout the group stage, winning both of its matches. Even more remarkably, Javier Aguirre’s squad has yet to concede a single goal.
The support of the home crowd at the legendary Azteca Stadium will undoubtedly provide an additional boost for El Tri. Up front, Raul Jimenez is expected to once again lead the attack alongside Julian Quinones, while Edson Alvarez remains the key figure in maintaining the team’s balance.
Although Mexico has already qualified, Aguirre insists his team is still hungry for victory. He is determined to keep his players focused ahead of their final group match against the Czech Republic and does not want outside expectations to disrupt the hard-working mentality his squad has developed since the beginning of training camp.***
