MEXICO CITY: Mexico have already booked their place in the knockout stage and guaranteed top spot in Group ‘A’, but Wednesday’s match against the Czech Republic may still carry more risk than the standings suggest.

The co-hosts enter their last group match at Estadio Azteca with six points from two games, having beaten South Africa and South Korea without conceding a goal.

Czech Republic arrive with one point after a 2-1 defeat by South Korea and a 1-1 draw with South Africa, leaving them in urgent need of a result to keep their tournament hopes alive. That imbalance gives the match its edge.

Mexico remain the better-positioned team as they are unbeaten and backed by a home crowd, but Czech Republic’s greater urgency, combined with the possibility of Mexican rotation, could make the night more complicated for the hosts.

Coach Javier Aguirre faces the familiar dilemma of an already-qualified team of whether to protect key players before the knockout stage or maintain rhythm and momentum in front of their own supporters.

The Czechs’ problem has been turning promising positions into results. They led against South Korea before losing, then went ahead against South Africa through Michal Sadilek before conceding a late penalty.

Coach Miroslav Koubek said after the draw with the African side that Czech Republic had been closer to victory, a reflection of both their threat and the frustration of failing to turn pressure into three points.

In the other Group ‘A’ fixture on Wednesday, South Africa and South Korea both have victory on their agenda for their decisive clash in Monterrey where similar playing styles could produce an eye-catching spectacle.

Progress to the last 32 is still alive for all the other protagonists in the group, either as runners-up or, if they get enough points, as one of the best eight third-placed finishers across the 12 first-round groups.

South Korea, with three points, are in a superior position to the basement Group ‘A’ side South Africa, who have a single point and an inferior goal difference to the Koreans.

Published in Dawn, June 24th, 2026