2026 World Cup: Group A preview, odds & predictions

Ahead of the 2026 World Cup, Ladbrokes shares its in-depth Group A preview, with a look at each nation, the full schedule, and the bookies' favourites.

Co-hosts Mexico are the bookies' pick to top Group A but Czech Republic, South Korea and South Africa make up an intriguing and evenly-spread group where all four nations have a real chance of progressing to the round of 32, according to Ladbrokes' odds.

Mexico

One of three co-hosts for the tournament alongside the USA and Canada, Mexico kick off the tournament at Mexico City's Azteca Stadium against South Africa on June 11 in what is a repeat of the opening game of the 2010 World Cup when Bafana Bafana hosted.

Names like Raul Jimenez and Edson Alvarez will be familiar to Premier League fans, with Santiago Gimenez another striker to watch. Despite a disappointing season at AC Milan, the 25-year-old netted 65 times in 105 games for Feyenoord to earn him a big-money move to San Siro in 2025.

Another man who needs no introduction is veteran goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, who could join icons Lionel Messi and Cristiano in appearing in a record-breaking sixth World Cup at the age of 41.

Javier Aguirre led El Tri to the Gold Cup 2025, cementing them as the top dog in North and Central America once again, but the real aim will be to finally break their infamous quarter-final curse at the World Cup. With a home crowd roaring them on, this may be one of their best chances.

South Africa

South Africa are appearing at their first World Cup since hosting the tournament 14 years ago and it is the first time they have qualified on merit after topping CAF Qualification Group C - pipping Nigeria to an automatic spot.

Goalkeeper Ronwen Williams is their star name, with the once Tottenham youngster and now Mamelodi Sundowns man named the ninth-best stopper in the world in the 2024 Ballon d'Or awards. Plenty of their other stars also play their football in South Africa, including winger Relebohile Mofokeng for Orlando Pirates, while striker Lyle Foster has played his part in two promotions with Burnley since joining in 2022.

Bafana Bafana are undoubtedly the outsiders in Group A but find themselves in a group which lacks a real juggernaut contender - so do not be surprised if they spring a surprise or two.

South Korea

South Korea could well be a team to keep an eye on in Group A after an unbeaten AFC Qualification campaign as they prepare to take part in their 11th World Cup finals.

All eyes will be on Heung-Min Son for what could be his last-ever World Cup. The Tottenham legend has been in America since last summer, playing regularly for LAFC ahead of the tournament, while Kim Min-jae and Lee Kang-in are playing their part in Bayern Munich's impressive season in Germany, with Hee-chan Hwang (Wolves) and Jae-sung Lee (Mainz) among the other European-based players.

The Taegeuk Warriors have become World Cup regulars who have history of showing up in the big moments, having memorably finished fourth as co-hosts in 2002, before reaching the knockout stages in three of the last five editions since then and are rightly considered a key contender to get out of the group once again.

Czech Republic

Czech Republic were the last Group A member to secure their place, having done so through the UEFA play-offs by beating Republic of Ireland and then Denmark both via a penalty shootout.

Unlike Mexico and South Korea, you have to go back 20 years since Czechia reached a World Cup - but they are ranked as second-favourites in the outright and qualification markets for the group by Ladbrokes, with a number of well-known stars capable of making a splash in North America this summer.

Bayer Leverkusen striker and fourth-highest ever goalscorer Patrik Schick will undoubtedly be the man tasked with scoring the all-important goals, but West Ham's Tomas Soucek is also a threat from midfield alongside a number of other experienced operators.

Host nation Mexico are unsurprisingly the favourites to progress to the round of 32 given their history of qualifying from the group stages and home advantage which is sure to be a key factor. El Tri are just 17/20 to top the group and 1/12 to secure qualification.

It really is an open group, though, with Czech Republic next in line at 5/2 to win the group and 1/4 to qualify, just ahead of South Korea who are priced just behind at 7/2 and 1/3 in the same markets, with the expanded format offering a huge chance for both nations to continue their journeys into the knockouts.

South Africa go down as underdogs as a result but given the expanded format and lack of top-bracket heavyweight opponent to face in the group, they have been given a more than reasonable chance of qualifying at 23/20, even if topping Group A 14/1 may just be out of reach.

Ladbrokes' 2026 World Cup betting guide provides all the tips you need to place calculated, well-informed wagers on Group A.

• Mexico vs South Africa (Thursday, 11 June - 20:00 BST)

• South Korea vs Czech Republic (Friday, 12 June - 03:00 BST)

• Czech Republic vs South Africa (Thursday, 18 June - 17:00 BST)

• Mexico vs South Korea (Friday, 19 June - 02:00 BST)

• Czech Republic vs Mexico (Thursday, 25 June - 02:00 BST)

• South Africa vs South Korea (Thursday, 25 June - 02:00 BST)

You can also find the full 2026 World Cup fixture schedule here.

Predicted standings:

• 1) Mexico

• 2) South Korea

• 3) Czech Republic

• 4) South Africa

Ladbrokes is predicting Mexico to live up to their favourites tag and top Group A, with South Korea's superior experience at recent World Cups giving them the edge as they seal second spot over Czech Republic.

The Czechs are down as third in our predictions, although that could still mean qualification as one of the best third-placed teams, with outsiders South Africa just falling short.

Check out the latest betting promotions from Ladbrokes to enhance your betting experience.

All odds and market details are accurate as of the time of publication.

View the latest World Cup 2026 odds.