World Cup 2026: Group A Preview

The 2026 World Cup kicks off very soon and it's going to be biggest World Cup ever as there will be more teams taking part and more games taking place than there ever have been.

I would normally do a preview for the entire tournament but because of there being more teams taking part at this tournament, I've decided to do a preview for each group

In each preview, I've done a fact file on every team in each group including how far I think they'll go, their strongest line ups and who their most important players will be.

Here is the preview for Group A.

MEXICO

MANAGER: Javier Aguirre

FIFA RANKING: 15

WORLD CUP APPEARANCES: 17

BEST WORLD CUP FINISH: Quarter Finals x2 - 1970 and 1986

Mexico are back hosting another World Cup 40 years after hosting their last one in 1986. They reached the Quarter Finals that year and in the previous tournament they hosted in 1970, and having home advantage this one will be a bonus for them as all their group games will be played on home soil. They have had a rough few years going back to the last World Cup where they crashed out at the group stages, but Javier Aguirre's return to a third stint in charge has steadied the ship.

KEY PLAYER: Cesar Montes

Position: Centre Back

Club: Lokomotiv Moscow

Montes is a centre back who is comfortable on the ball, good in the air and a very good reader of the game. He was an integral part of the Mexico side that won the Gold Cup last year and he'll need to repeat his exploits at that tournament if they're to do well at this one.

PLAYER TO WATCH: Brian Gutierrez

Position: Midfielder

Club: Guadalajara

Gutierrez is a player who has a habit of breaking into the box to score goals and playing decisive passes into the final third. He'll be at the heart of every Mexico attack when they go forward because of his creativity and ability to make things happen.

PREDICTION: Last 16

Home advantage will certainly help as so will being in a slightly more winnable group. Because of this I can see them win the group but not go beyond the last 16 as they don't have the quality of players that other teams have.

SOUTH AFRICA

MANAGER: Hugo Broos

FIFA RANKING: 60

WORLD CUP APPEARANCES: 3

BEST WORLD CUP FINISH: Group Stage x3 - 1998, 2002 and 2010

South Africa are back at a World Cup finals for the first time since hosting it in 2010. They created some incredible memories at that tournament and will be hoping to create more at this one where they'll be hoping to go one better than they have at their last three appearances at these finals. Being in a more open group certainly gives them a chance but they'll still be the main underdogs.

KEY PLAYER: Oswin Appollis

Position: Winger

Club: Orlando Pirates

Appollis can be a handful for any defender on his day as he's quick, skilful, agile and can also score goals. He's likely to be South Africa's main attacking threat at this tournament given the attributes he has and if his team can get him on the ball, he'll make things happen.

PLAYER TO WATCH: Teboho Mokoena

Position: Midfielder

Club: Mamelodi Sundowns

Mokoena is the one who dictates play and breaks up opposition attacks as well as get attacks started for his team. He knows when to sniff out danger and when to play the right pass through the thirds due to his reading of the game and vision respectively. He also has a good strike on him as he's capable of striking the ball from any distance.

PREDICTION: Group Stage

They'll be massive underdogs in this group as they don't have the quality that the other teams have. Because of this I see them going home early.

SOUTH KOREA

MANAGER: Hong Myung-Bo

FIFA RANKING: 25

WORLD CUP APPEARANCES: 11

BEST WORLD CUP FINISH: 4th Place - 2002

South Korea have never gone far at a World Cup with their journey to the semi finals in 2002 being the only acception. That was the only time they really surprised anyone at these finals but they did reach the knockout stages in Qatar four years ago where they beat Portugal in their final group game to seal their place. They have a great chance to reach the knockouts again at this tournament as they're in a more open group than they have been at the past few.

KEY PLAYER: Heung Min Son

Position: Forward

Club: Los Angeles

He might not be the player he once was, but Son is still South Korea's main man and main source of goals. They'll be looking to him to provide moments of quality when they're needed most and he's likely to save himself for those moments as his pace isn't what it once was.

PLAYER TO WATCH: Kim Min Jae

Position: Centre Back

Club: Bayern Munich

Kim is an all-round solid defender due to his height, strength and ability to make key interventions. He has had a fair bit of stick since he's been at Bayern Munich but when he's on it, he's a tough player to play against because of his physicality and reading of the game.

PREDICTION: Last 32

They should have enough to get out of the group as they have players in their team who can win them games. But I don't see them going beyond the knockouts as they don't have the quality to go deep into the tournament.

CZECH REPUBLIC

MANAGER: Miroslav Koubek

FIFA RANKING: 41

WORLD CUP APPEARANCES: 9

BEST WORLD CUP FINISH: Runners Up x2 - 1934 and 1962

Czech Republic are back at a World Cup finals for the first time since 2006 which was their only appearance at these finals as an independent nation following the break with Czechoslovakia in 1992. They've been that team for a while who qualify for the Euros but never for the World Cup. That all changed when they qualified for this tournament and they'll come into it as one of the underdogs.

KEY PLAYER: Patrik Schick

Position: Striker

Club: Bayer Leverkusen

Schick's international career hasn't exactly kicked on since his exploits at Euro 2020 where he shared the golden boot with Cristiano Ronaldo. But he did rediscover his form in qualifying where he netted 4 times after another clinical season at Leverkusen, the Czech's will need him to repeat that form at this tournament if they're to stand a chance.

PLAYER TO WATCH: Pavel Sulc

Position: Midfielder

Club: Lyon

Sulc will bring extra quality to the Czech attack through his ability to both create and scored goals. He had a promising debut season at Lyon and if he can carry the form he showed during that season into this tournament, the Czech's could cause some surprises.

PREDICTION: Last 32

They'll make it difficult for teams by being competitive and staying in games for as long as they can. But with a lack of experience at this tournament and star quality in their side, I don't see them making much of an impact.