Group A

Group A belongs to the co-hosts: Mexico (CONCACAF) get the honour of opening the tournament at the Estadio Azteca, and under Javier Aguirre-back for a third spell-they arrive with a settled identity after winning the 2025 Nations League and Gold Cup. Home advantage and that recent silverware make them the favourites to top the group, even if their forward line still asks more questions than it answers.

The chase pack is genuinely tight. South Korea (AFC) are the most talented of the rest: Son Heung-min remains a match-winner from the left, and this is arguably the deepest squad they have brought since the 2002 semi-final run. The Czech Republic (UEFA) are back at a World Cup for the first time since 2006, having edged through the playoffs the hard way-expect them to be awkward, organised and hard to beat rather than expansive. South Africa (CAF) return for the first time since hosting in 2010; Hugo Broos has built a disciplined side that won its qualifying group, but they look a level below on paper.

How to predict it: treat Mexico as likely winners and then split South Korea and the Czech Republic for second. The genuinely open nature of the group makes it a strong candidate to send a third-placed team through-if South Korea or the Czechs finish third with a positive result or two, they are very live for one of the eight best-thirds spots, so don't write off whoever you leave in third.

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