* After beating South Korea 1-0 in the second Group A match on Friday morning through midfielder Luis Romo’s 50th minute
* South Korea have 3 points while South Africa and Czech Republic share a points each ahead of final matches
* Bafana will face South Korea with the Africans hoping that the co-hosts should beat Czech Republic in the event that they win
Maravi Express
Co-hosts Mexico have become the first nation to qualify for the knockout stages of the FIFA World Cup™ 2026 following their 1-0 win over South Korea to lead Group A with 6 points, two ahead the Koreans, who registered their win in the opening match when they beat Czech Republic 2-1.
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Czech Republic, who next date Mexico in final group matches, drew-1-1-with-South-Africa, who will meet South Korea in last match with the African representatives hoping that the co-hosts should beat Czech Republic in the event that they beat the Koreans.
Mexico midfielder Luis Romo was hero of the night when he placed himself in the right place at the right time to tap into an empty net after goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu spilled the ball following a collision with his team-mate Lee Gi-hyuk in the 50th minute.
South Korea’s best chance came in the 87th minute when Cho Gue-sung’s close-range header was saved by Raul Rangel and the Mexico keeper was able to keep out Yang Hyun-jun’s follow-up.
Earlier, captain Son Heung-min had chipped Rangel before his effort was cleared off the line by Edson Alvarez, although the former Tottenham forward was flagged offside.
Backed by a boisterous home support who had booed their team at half-time following a toothless first half, Mexico almost added a second in the 75th minute but Raul Jimenez’s effort from a tight angle was saved.
Substitute Obed Vargas also forced Kim into a fine diving save late on with a driven strike as Mexico record a 100% winning run that confirmed coach Javier Aguirre’s side to advance as Group A winners.
The co-hosts will be in Mexico City for both their last-32 and potential last-16 tie, where they could face England if Thomas Tuchel’s side win their group and first knockout match.
In Group B match, co-hosts Canada thrashed nine-man Qatar 6-0 to clinch their first-ever World Cup victory in a game marred by a horrific injury to the home team’s midfielder Ismael Kone, and disciplinary issues both during and after the match.
A Jonathan David hat-trick, one goal apiece from Cyle Larin and Nathan Saliba, as well as a Qatar own goal, sealed a momentous victory for the Canadians at the BC Place Vancouver Stadium.
The two Group B opening matches ended 1-1 draw each when Canada faced Bosnia & Herzegovina and Qatar sharing the spoils with Switzerland, who beat Bosnia & Herzegovina 4-1 last evening.
Canada now need only a draw against Switzerland in their final match to finish top of the group, while Qatar and Bosnia and Herzegovina will aim to finish third when they meet on Wednesday.—Reporting by BBC Sport & AFP; editing by Maravi Express
Group stage results
Group A
Mexico 2-0 South Africa
South Korea 2-1 Czechia
Czech Republic 1-2 South Africa
Mexico 1-0 South Korea
Group B
Canada 1-1 Bosnia and Herzegovina
Qatar 1-1 Switzerland
Switzerland 4-1 Bosnia & Herzegovina
Canada 6-0 Qatar
Group C
Brazil 1-1 Morocco
Haiti 0-1 Scotland
Group D
USA 4-1 Paraguay
Australia 2-0 Turkiye
Group E
Côte d’Ivoire 1-0 Ecuador
Germany 7-1 Curacao
Group F
Netherlands 2-2 Japan
Sweden 5-1 Tunisia
Group G
Belgium 1-1 Egypt
Iran 2-2 New Zealand
Group H
Spain 0-0 Cape Verde
Saudi Arabia 1-1 Uruguay
Group I
France 3-1 Senegal
Iraq 1-4 Norway
Group J
Argentina 3-0 Algeria
Austria 3-1 Jordan
Group K
Portugal 1-1 DR Congo
Uzbekistan 1-3 Colombia
Group L
England 4-2 Croatia
Ghana 1-0 Panama
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