South Korea head coach Hong Myung-bo answers questions at an official press conference at Estadio BBVA in Monterrey, Mexico, on Tuesday (local time), ahead of the team's Group A finale against South Africa at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. [Yonhap]
South Korea head coach Hong Myung-bo answers questions at an official press conference at Estadio BBVA in Monterrey, Mexico, on Tuesday (local time), ahead of the team's Group A finale against South Africa at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. [Yonhap]

South Korea's path to the round of 32 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup has grown more complicated after Mexico announced it will field a second-string lineup for its final Group A match.

According to multiple Mexican outlets including TUDN, Mexico head coach Javier Aguirre revealed his starting lineup for Thursday's match against Czech Republic at an official press conference Wednesday.

Aguirre plans to start 41-year-old veteran Guillermo Ochoa in goal instead of first-choice keeper Raul Rangel and rotate five or six outfield players. Mexico has already secured first place in Group A and a berth in the round of 32 with six points.

That in effect gives Czech Republic a match against a weakened side. If Czech Republic beat Mexico while South Korea lose to South Africa at the same time, the final Group A standings would flip to Mexico (6 points), Czech Republic and South Africa (4 points each), and South Korea (3 points) — with fourth place meaning elimination.

Under new rules introduced at this tournament, head-to-head results take precedence over goal difference when teams are level on points — meaning direct matchups between tied teams matter more than running up the score against weaker opponents.

South Korea, coached by Hong Myung-bo, face South Africa on Thursday at 10 a.m. Korean Standard Time at Estadio BBVA in Monterrey. South Korea sit second in the group with three points (one win, one loss), while South Africa are bottom with one point (one draw, one loss).

According to football statistics provider Opta, South Korea's probability of advancing to the round of 32 stands at 89.96 percent — well ahead of Czech Republic at 29.76 percent and South Africa at 20.34 percent.

A draw or better would clinch second place in the group and a spot in the round of 32 for South Korea. Even a loss to South Africa would not necessarily end their campaign — if Czech Republic fail to beat Mexico, South Korea could survive as one of the eight best third-placed teams across the tournament's 12 groups.


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