Mexico Opens 2026 World Cup vs South Africa

The 2026 World Cup opens Thursday with Group A matches. Mexico host South Africa at 3 p.m. ET in Mexico City on Fox, while South Korea meet Czechia at 10 p.m. ET in Guadalajara on FS1. Mexico enter as prohibitive Group A favorites and are heavily favored to win Thursday. Goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, 40, is set for his sixth World Cup appearance, with a possible start over Tala Rangel. Forward Raul Jiménez leads the attack and 17‑year‑old Gilberto Mora is likely to start midfield after re‑upping with Club Tijuana. South Africa return to the tournament for the first time since hosting in 2010, where Bafana Bafana failed to progress beyond the group stage. The squad is largely domestic, but Burnley striker Lyle Foster will feature up front as a heavy underdog to reach the expanded Round of 32. South Korea’s clash with Czechia could decide the Group A runner‑up if Mexico finish first. South Korea mark their 10th consecutive World Cup, having reached the Round of 16 in Qatar 2022 before a 4‑1 loss to Brazil, and are led by former Tottenham star Son Heung‑Min, now of LAFC, whose club form has been poor this season. Czechia appear for the first time since 2006; Patrik Schik starts up front and Tomáš Souček remains a midfield mainstay after losing the captaincy amid a kerfuffle following a 6‑0 win over Gibraltar.