World Cup 2026 Group A betting preview & team guide
Content Editor at Free Super Tips, Alex was born in the shadow of Old Trafford and is an avid Man Utd fan. After graduating from university he combined his love of football, writing and betting to join FST and now closely follows goings-on in all of the top European leagues.
Tournament co-hosts and Group A favourites Mexico kick off the 2026 World Cup against South Africa at Estadio Azteca on Thursday, June 11th, with EL Tri odds-on favourites to start the tournament with a win, while South Korea and Czechia appear closely matched in the battle for qualification.
World Cup 2026 Group A winner betting odds
- Mexico – 1/1
- Czechia – 9/4
- South Korea – 10/3
- South Africa – 12/1
*All odds correct as of 27th May, 2026 on bet365.com
Group A guide
Mexico
Overview
Mexico failed to get out of the group stage for the first time since the 1960s in the 2022 World Cup, but they have won two CONCACAF Gold Cups and a Nations League title since that disappointment and, after qualifying automatically as co-hosts, they are favourites to top the Group A standings this summer.
Strengths
Home advantage could be key for Mexico this summer, and their squad has a good spread of experience, while the presence of plenty of domestic-based players could also make a positive impact if the climate comes into play.
Weaknesses
There is a distinct lack of cutting edge at the sharp end of Mexico’s squad, with their main goal threat being 35-year-old Raul Jimenez. They have only scored 11 goals in their last 10 games, and four of those came against Iceland.
Prospects
Mexico may have failed to escape the group stage in Qatar four years ago, but before that they had reached – and been eliminated in – the round of 16 in seven successive World Cups. Another last 16 appearance will be the least the home fans expect, but I can’t see them getting much further than that.
Team guide
Best World Cup finish: Quarter-finals (1970, 1986)
Key player: Edson Alvarez
Rising star: Gilberto Mora
Mexico predicted lineup (4-3-3): Rangel; Sanchez, Montes, Vasquez, Gallardo; Mora, Alvarez, Ruiz; Alvarado, Jimenez, Gimenez
Best Bet – Raul Jimenez top team goalscorer
Raul Jimenez was Mexico’s top goalscorer in both their 2025 Gold Cup win and their 2024/25 Nations League triumph and he heads into the summer just three goals off becoming El Tri’s second-highest goalscorer of all time.
South Africa
Overview
South Africa return to the World Cup for the first time since they hosted the 2010 edition after pipping Nigeria to top spot in Group C, but they face a tough task in Group A and head to the tournament as 12/1 outsiders to top the group. Burnley striker Lyle Foster is expected to spearhead the attack, with other European interest in QPR’s Tylon Smith, Molde’s Samukele Kabini, and Hannover’s Ime Okon.
Strengths
An attacking trio consisting of up-and-coming Relebohile Mofokeng, key figure Oswin Appollis and Burnley forward Lyle Foster could pave the way for some excitement for Bafana Bafana.
Weaknesses
While their attackers look to be the stars, the overall deficit in quality compared to their opponents could leave them struggling to carve out opportunities. They are likely to spend long periods without the ball, and a squad largely consisting of domestic-based players may cave under the pressure.
Prospects
Heading into their first World Cup in 16 years and having never made it out of the group stage, South Africa’s prospects are limited. They will be hoping to give a good account of themselves in Group A, but anything more than that appears beyond them.
Team guide
Best World Cup finish: Group stage (1998, 2002, 2010)
Key player: Oswin Appollis
Rising star: Relebohile Mofokeng
South Africa predicted lineup (4-3-3): Williams; Mudau, Okon, Mbokazi, Modiba; Mokoena, Sibisi, Sithole; Appollis, Foster, Mofokeng
Best Bet: South Africa not to qualify from Group A at 8/13 / to finish bottom
South Africa have never progressed past the group stage in the World Cup and, while the expanded tournament offers more spots in the knockout stages, that trend is unlikely to end in North America. Bafana Bafana face a difficult prospect against Mexico, South Korea, and Czech Republic, and a third-place finish – particularly one that earns them one of the eight third-place qualification spots – looks a tall order.
South Korea
Overview
South Korea were the only team in Asia to qualify for the 2026 World Cup unbeaten and the 2002 semi-finalists have made it out of the group stage in two of the last four World Cups. Led by talisman Son Heung-min in what could be his final World Cup, they are third-favourites to top Group A.
Strengths
Individual quality and experience will be key to South Korea’s chances. They have a legendary match-winner in Son Heung-min and Bayern Munich star Kim Min-jae at the back, while six of the squad have over 70 international caps.
Weaknesses
South Korea’s attack relies heavily on Son and, if the opposition can isolate the former Spurs attacker, it is possible to frustrate them. They failed to beat Jordan, Oman and Palestine in qualifying and failed to score in defeats to Austria and Ivory Coast in March.
Prospects
Group qualification is the very least expected of South Korea and they have the individual quality to trouble plenty of sides in the knockout stages. However, their attack is relatively one-dimensional and heavily reliant on Son, and the better teams in the tournament should be able to nullify that threat.
Team guide
Best World Cup finish: Semi-finals (2002)
Key player: Son Heung-min
Rising star: Bae Jun-ho
South Korea predicted lineup (4-2-3-1): Kim Seung-gyu; Seol Young-woo, Kim Min-jae, Cho Yu-min, Lee Tae-seok; Hwang In-beom, Paik Seung-ho; Lee Kang-in, Lee Jae-sung, Hwang Hee-chan; Son Heung-min
Best Bet – South Korea to finish in the top 2 of Group A
South Korea face stiff competition in Group A, but they ran a tight ship at the back through qualifying and that could make all the difference in North America. They should have the beating of South Africa, and avoiding defeat against Czech Republic or Mexico, who they drew with in a friendly last year, could be enough to secure the runners-up spot.
Czechia
Overview
After finishing second to Croatia in their World Cup qualifying group, Czechia saw off Ireland and Denmark to reach the finals for the first time since 2006 and they are second-favourites to top Group A, but their group-stage exit in Euro 2024 under Ivan Hasek is a concern, and they have not reached the knockout rounds since 1990.
Strengths
Patrik Schick is a massive threat going forward for Czechia and is coming into the tournament after a fantastic club season with Bayer Leverkusen. He adds to the physicality of the squad, with Tomas Soucek, Ladislav Krejci, and Adam Hlosek adding to their set-piece threat.
Weaknesses
Czechia’s experience could work against them in the fixture-congested midst of the tournament. Half of their predicted starting lineup are 30 or older, including a midfield pivot of Tomas Soucek and Vladimir Darida, who have a combined age of 66.
Prospects
Czechia have not made it out of the group stage since 1990. They have the opportunity to end that run with the expanded format, but it is hard to see them getting beyond the first round of knockout fixtures.
Team guide
Best World Cup finish: Runners-up (1934, 1962)
Key player: Tomas Soucek
Rising star: Hugo Sochurek
Czechia predicted lineup (4-2-3-1): Kovar; Coufal, Holes, Krejci, Jurasek; Darida, Soucek; Provod, Schick, Sulc; Hlozek
Best Bet – Patrik Schick top team goalscorer
Patrik Schick was the joint-top goalscorer in Euro 2020 and was Czechia’s highest scorer in Euro 2024 and their World Cup qualifying campaign. He has scored 22 goals for Bayer Leverkusen this season and is the only active player to have more than 20 goals for the national team.
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