Czechia and South Africa Clash in Crucial World Cup 2026 Group A Match

Both Czechia and South Africa will face off in a pivotal Group A match at the 2026 World Cup on Thursday, each desperate for a victory after losing their opening fixtures. The game takes place at Atlanta Stadium in Georgia, United States, kicking off at noon local time (16:00 GMT). Coverage begins on Al Jazeera Sport from 12:30 GMT.

Czechia, who opened their campaign with a 2-1 defeat to South Korea in Guadalajara, Mexico, despite taking an early lead through captain Ladislav Krejci, are under pressure to secure points. With Mexico awaiting in their final group match, the Czechs view this encounter with South Africa as their best chance to stay in contention for the knockout stage.

Defender Jaroslav Zeleny stressed the importance of the match, saying, "Against South Africa, we have to get it right. Mexico will probably be a tougher challenge afterwards, so we have to give everything in the match against South Africa and absolutely make sure we win it." Czechia, making their first World Cup appearance in 20 years, finished as runners-up in 1934 and 1962 as part of Czechoslovakia, but since independence, their best result was a quarterfinal berth in 1990.

South Africa, meanwhile, are looking to rebound from a disappointing 2-0 loss to co-hosts Mexico in the tournament opener. The match, which brought back memories of their 2010 home opener, saw the South African side reduced to nine men and concede two goals, sparking criticism from fans and scrutiny of coach Hugo Broos's tactics and player performances.

Winger Thapelo Maseko pushed back against the criticism, stating, "Something that I’ve picked up is that South Africans are happy when you win, but when you lose, you are the worst. That is a fact. We have big players with heart, and if there is anyone out there doubting this team, they’d better think again." Following strong showings by fellow African teams such as Morocco, Cape Verde, Egypt, and Ivory Coast, Bafana Bafana face added pressure to prove themselves.

According to stats provider Opta, Czechia have a 54.9 percent probability of winning, compared to 21.8 percent for South Africa. Both teams are seeking their first win of the tournament to keep their hopes of advancing to the knockout stages alive in the 48-team competition.