Mexico and South Africa are through to the World Cup 2026 Round of 32, which is not exactly the outcome many have predicted before the tournament started. El Tri and Bafana Bafana did it through their latest wins against the Czech Republic and South Korea, who were expected to take the Top 2 berths in Group A in the first place.
Mexico won 3-0 against Czechia, which have them as one of the few teams finishing with a 100-per cent record – nine points in three group-stage matches – so there’s a lot to celebrate for Javier Aguirre and his men. But the job is far from finished for one of the quadrennial tournament’s co-hosts, as they will face the third seed from Group C, E, F, H, or I in the Round of 32.
Moreover, South Africa defied the SBOTOP World Cup 2026 odds with a narrow 1-0 win against South Korea to steal the second seed in Group A. By doing so, Hugo Broos’ men have set up a date with another tournament co-host, Canada, in the Round of 32.
Czechia 0-3 Mexico
Mexico actually played on the back foot early against the Czech Republic, led by Michal Sadilek and Denis Visinsky. However, Miroslav Koubek’s men weren’t good enough to test goalkeeper Raul Rangel. Mexico grew in the first half, and Jorge Sanchez fired El Tri’s first attempt on target straight at Matej Kovar, as Julian Quinones tried his luck from long range.
After a goalless first half, Mexico eventually opened the scoring in the 55th minute when Luis Romo – the lone goalscorer against South Korea last time out – bundled his way past three Czechia players before slipping in Mateo Chavez, who placed the ball into the bottom-left corner after going beyond Sadilek’s challenge. At 22 years and 41 days, Chavez became the youngest goalscorer for Mexico in a World Cup match since Chicharito in 2010 against Argentina (22 years, 26 days).
Six minutes later, Julian Quinones doubled Mexico’s lead. The Al-Qadsiah forward was quick to the ball after Tomas Holes’ clearance went his way, following Gilberto Mora’s incisive through-ball to Sanchez.
With the match wrapped up, Guillermo Ochoa was subbed in for Rangel to become the oldest player to appear for Mexico in a World Cup game at 40 years and 346 days old, surpassing Rafa Marquez against Brazil in 2018 (39 years, 139 days).
And there was time for Ochoa to make an impact, but in the final third. His long punt found Roberto Alvarado, who passed the ball to Santiago Gimenez, whose effort was parried. However, Alvarado picked up the ball and teed up substitute Alvaro Fidalgo, who fired into the roof of the net during stoppage time.
For the first time, Mexico have won all three of their World Cup group stage matches, and they’ve done so by keeping three consecutive clean sheets in the competition for the first time since 1986 (also three). They recorded an expected goals (xG) of 1.79 compared to only 0.47 for Czechia.
South Africa 1-0 South Korea
In one of the most shocking World Cup 2026 results, South Africa overcame a sluggish start to dispatch South Korea, with Thapelo Maseko as the hero for Bafana Bafana.
South Korea had the better of the early chances, with Kim Min-Jae seeing his header cleared off the line by Audrey Modiba in the second minute. Lee Kang-In almost drew first blood with his long-range attempt that went wide moments later.
South Africa grew into the game, as Maseko saw an effort blocked by Lee Gi-Hyuk, while Thalente Mbatha and Evidence Makgopa were denied in quick succession by Kim Seung-Gyu.
After missing an early chance in the second half, where Jens Castrop made a last-ditch block, Maseko scored for South Africa three minutes after the hour mark by taking in a low cross from Tshepang Moremi before putting the ball into the bottom-right corner.
Maseko led the game with shots (five) and touches inside the box (six), and was responsible for 0.32 of South Africa’s 1.1 expected goals (xG). His goal was also the first time South Africa had taken a lead in a World Cup game since their 2-1 win against France in June 2010.
Bafana Bafana absorbed pressure from the Taeguk Warriors, who were desperate for an equaliser. But South Korea couldn’t manufacture any clear-cut chances, as Son Heung-Min and Seol Young-Wood failed to test Ronwen Williams with shots from outside the penalty area. Park Jin-Seob also saw his header blocked, as Hugo Broos’ side held on for a historic victory.
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