The World Cup is lastly right here.
The 2026 tournament kicks off Thursday with Group A getting underway. Here’s what you want to know for Day 1 of the World Cup.
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Thursday, June 11 | 3 p.m. ET | Mexico City | TV: Fox
Odds: Mexico (-235), South Africa (+650), Tie (+340)
The World Cup historically kicks off with a sport that includes the host nation. And by advantage of being in Group A, Mexico gets the honors amongst Canada and the United States to go first.
Mexico is the prohibitive favourite to win Group A and, as you may see, is closely favored to win Thursday. Goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, 40, is making his sixth World Cup look. Will he get the begin to commemorate one other tournament? Or will Tala Rangel get the begin over him?
Raul Jiménez leads the Mexico assault and 17-year-old Gilberto Mora is probably going to begin in midfield after he re-upped to stick with Club Tijuana.
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South Africa is making its first World Cup look because it was the host nation in 2010. Bafana Bafana failed to get out of the group stage in that tournament and is a heavy underdog to make the expanded Round of 32 this time round too. Most of the South African squad performs domestically, however Burnley striker Lyle Foster will function up entrance.
Thursday, June 11 | 10 p.m. ET | Guadalajara | TV: FS1
Odds: South Korea (+160), Czechia (+180), Tie (+180)
This could possibly be a sport that decides second place in the group if you happen to assume that Mexico will end in first.
South Korea is making its tenth straight World Cup look and made the Round of 16 in Qatar in 2022 earlier than shedding 4-1 to Brazil. The staff is led by former Tottenham star Son Heung-Min, who at present performs for LAFC in MLS. However, Son’s membership type hasn’t been nice thus far this season. Can he recapture the magic at the World Cup?
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Czechia is at the World Cup for the first time since 2006 and hasn’t made the knockout rounds of the tournament since a quarterfinal look in 1990 as Czechoslovakia. Patrik Schik will begin up entrance for Czechia, and Tomáš Souček continues to be a midfield mainstay after shedding the captaincy in November amid a kerfuffle about Czechia gamers not applauding their followers following a 6-0 win over Gibraltar.