2026 World Cup Group A: Teams, Schedule, Standings & Venues

The 2026 FIFA World Cup promises excitement from the very start, and Group A is set to kick off the tournament with thrilling matchups. Hosted across four stadiums, the group will open at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on June 11, 2026. Fans can expect action-packed matches featuring host nation Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, and the winner of UEFA Path D.

Here is everything you need to know about Group A, including the complete match schedule, team previews, and live standings.

Group A Teams Overview

Group A consists of four teams from three different confederations.

• Mexico: The group favorites and co-hosts.
• South Africa: Returning to the global stage with a young, exciting squad.
• South Korea: Asian heavyweights looking to repeat their historic 2002 run.
• UEFA Play-off D Winner: The winner from a bracket including Denmark, North Macedonia, Czech Republic, and the Republic of Ireland.

Team Profiles

Mexico (CONCACAF)

• Status: Co-Host (Pot 1)
• FIFA Ranking: 15
• Best Performance: Quarter-finals (1970, 1986)
• Outlook: Playing on home soil gives Mexico a massive advantage. The Estadio Azteca is one of the most intimidating venues in world football. Fans expect them to top this group, but the pressure will be immense.

South Korea (AFC)

• Status: Group B Winner (Pot 2)
• FIFA Ranking: 22
• Best Performance: Fourth Place (2002)
• Outlook: South Korea is consistent and disciplined. They breezed through the AFC qualifiers and have enough European-based talent to trouble any team in this bracket. The match against Mexico on June 18 could decide who wins the group.

South Africa (CAF)

• Status: Group C Winner (Pot 3)
• FIFA Ranking: 61
• Best Performance: Group Stage
• Outlook: The “Bafana Bafana” are back. While they are the lowest-ranked team in the group on paper, African teams have a history of upsetting the odds. Their opener against Mexico will be a trial by fire.

UEFA Path D Winner

• Status: Play-off Winner (Pot 4)
• Potential Teams: Denmark, North Macedonia, Czech Republic, Rep. of Ireland.
• Outlook: Never underestimate the European qualifier. Even coming from Pot 4, this team will likely be battle-hardened from the UEFA playoffs and tactically sharp.

Group A Match Schedule

The action begins on June 11, 2026, with the tournament opener in Mexico City. Matches will be split between historic venues in Mexico and the state-of-the-art Mercedes-Benz Stadium in the USA.

Date	Match	Match Number	Venue	City
June 11, 2026	Mexico vs South Africa	Match 1	Estadio Azteca	Mexico City, MX
June 11, 2026	South Korea vs UEFA Path D	Match 2	Estadio Akron	Zapopan, MX
June 18, 2026	UEFA Path D vs South Africa	Match 25	Mercedes-Benz Stadium	Atlanta, USA
June 18, 2026	Mexico vs South Korea	Match 28	Estadio Akron	Zapopan, MX
June 24, 2026	UEFA Path D vs Mexico	Match 53	Estadio Azteca	Mexico City, MX
June 24, 2026	South Africa vs South Korea	Match 54*	TBD	TBD

(Note: The final pair of matches in the group stage are typically played simultaneously to ensure fair play.)

MORE: To follow every stage of the tournament with accuracy, the World Cup 2026 Schedule remains the most reliable reference for confirmed match dates and fixtures.

Live Group A Standings

The top two teams will automatically advance to the Round of 32. The third-place team may also advance depending on their ranking against other third-place finishers across the tournament.

Pos	Team	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	GF	GA	GD	Points
1	Mexico (H)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2	South Africa	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
3	South Korea	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
4	UEFA Play-off D	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Host Stadiums for Group A

Group A is unique because it splits time between Mexico and the United States.

1. Estadio Azteca (Mexico City): The spiritual home of Mexican football. It will host the opening match and Mexico’s final group game. Capacity exceeds 80,000.
2. Estadio Akron (Zapopan/Guadalajara): A modern venue known for its volcano-like design. It hosts two crucial fixtures, including the Mexico vs. South Korea clash.
3. Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta): A massive NFL stadium with a retractable roof, hosting the neutral game between the European qualifier and South Africa.