Czechia vs. South Africa—World Cup: Live Score and Match Stats

The 25th game of the 2026 World Cup gets the second round of group stage games underway.

Czechia and South Africa both kicked off the 2026 World Cup with a defeat. | Sebastian Widmann/UEFA/Getty Images, Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images, Visionhaus/Getty Images

Czechia and South Africa both need to bounce back after suffering opening World Cup defeats to South Korea and Mexico respectively.

A win would give either country a good chance of reaching the expanded knockout stages, though a third-place finish in the group doesn’t guarantee safe passage to the Round of 32—a country must be among eight of the top 12 performers to come third in Groups A to L.

Czechia were eventually outgunned by South Korea, surrendering 62% possession while allowing 15 shots on goal, but it did have the better of the opening 45 minutes, before taking the lead through Ladislav Krejcí just before the hour-mark. The less said about the final half-hour the better.

South Africa, 60th in FIFA’s world rankings, were never really in the contest against co-hosts Mexico. Reduced to nine players, it had an xG (expected goals) marker of just 0.07 and had just two touches in the opposition penalty box.

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