Korea Republic vs Czechia – World Cup 2026 Group A Opener

South Korea vs Czechia is the second match of Matchday 1 in Group A at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The game takes place on 11 June at the Estadio Akron in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico. Both sides arrive with considerable World Cup pedigree — South Korea famously reached the semi-finals as hosts in 2002, whilst Czechia have long been one of Europe's most reliable qualifiers. As a result, this promises to be a keenly contested affair with both teams desperate for a winning start.

For UK fans, however, the kick-off falls at 03:00 BST in the early hours of Friday morning — one of the less sociable time slots in the group stage. Nevertheless, there are more accessible Group A fixtures to enjoy, particularly Czechia vs South Africa on 18 June, which begins at a very reasonable 17:00 BST. In addition, the opening match between Mexico and South Africa on 11 June kicks off at 20:00 BST, making it ideal for an evening watch party.

Group A also features Mexico and South Africa, completing a foursome that spans three continents. Each team plays three group matches, with the top two progressing automatically to the Round of 32 — an entirely new knockout stage introduced for this expanded 48-team World Cup. Furthermore, the eight best third-placed teams across all twelve groups will also advance, adding even more tension to the final matchday on 24 June.

Full Group A Schedule – 2026 World Cup (UK / BST Times)

Below is the complete Group A fixture list with exact BST kick-off times. Bear in mind that all four Group A teams play in Mexican venues for the majority of their fixtures, which unfortunately pushes most kick-offs into the small hours for UK fans. The final matchday on 24 June features simultaneous kick-offs for both Group A matches — a FIFA rule designed to prevent any tactical score-watching in the closing round.

Where to Watch Group A in the United Kingdom

All 104 matches of the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be broadcast free-to-air in the United Kingdom, split between BBC and ITV. Both broadcasters will provide live coverage, highlights, analysis and studio programming throughout the tournament. Streaming is available at no extra cost via BBC iPlayer and ITVX, meaning you can catch every fixture on any device — including late-night and early-morning kick-offs from Mexico.

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