Czech Republic vs South Africa Prediction: 2026 FIFA World Cup Group A

Czech Republic vs South Africa Prediction. Czech Republic and South Africa meet in a must-not-lose Group A fixture at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta on Thursday, 18 June 2026 (18:00 SAST (Thursday, 18 June 2026)). Both sides lost their openers. South Africa face this match without two suspended players after their red-card-marred defeat to Mexico. Our prediction: Czech Republic to win. Full analysis, team news and markets on SportPesa.

Match details

Field	Detail
Competition	2026 FIFA World Cup — Group A, Match Day 2
Date & kick-off	Thursday, 18 June 2026 at 18:00 SAST (Thursday, 18 June 2026)
Venue	Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Group A standings	After Match Day 1: Mexico & South Korea on 3 pts; Czech Republic & South Africa on 0 pts
Where to watch	DSTV/GOTV

Both sides on the brink after Match Day 1

Czech Republic opened their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with a 2-1 defeat to South Korea. Ladislav Krejčí scored their only goal in that match and will be key again here. It was only the third time in their history that Czech Republic have lost a World Cup opener — the previous occasions were 1954 and 1970.

South Africa’s opener against co-hosts Mexico at the Azteca Stadium was defined by controversy. The match was the first opening game in World Cup history to feature three red cards. Crucially, Yaya Sithole and Themba Zwane were both dismissed for Bafana Bafana — they are suspended for this match and are likely to miss the remainder of the tournament. The 2-0 defeat to Mexico leaves Hugo Broos’ side at the bottom of Group A and needing an immediate response. Another loss would effectively end their World Cup. catcrossgame.com

For context and motivation, South Africa can look to their own World Cup history. When they hosted the 2010 tournament, they famously beat France 2-1 in the group stage. A repeat upset against a European side here would transform the group picture entirely.

The winner of this match climbs to third in Group A and keeps their knockout round hopes alive. A draw leaves both sides in a precarious position heading into their third fixtures.

Team news and expected line-ups

Czech Republic are expected to name an unchanged side from the South Korea defeat. Krejčí continues in defence and on set pieces. Vladimír Coufál and Tomáš Souček retain their midfield roles. Patrik Schick leads the attack.

South Africa are forced into changes. Sithole and Zwane are suspended. Lyle Foster, who struggled against Mexico, is expected to drop to the bench. Evidence Makgopa comes into the starting XI. Aubrey Modiba and Jayden Adams, both substitutes against Mexico, are both expected to start.

Line-ups below are expected XIs. Update once confirmed XIs are released before kick-off. URGENT: confirm suspension details for Sithole and Zwane.

Czech Republic (4-2-3-1)	South Africa (4-4-2)
Vaclik (GK)	Williams (GK)
Coufal (RB)	Mudau (RB)
Krejci (CB)	Mothobi (CB)
Brabec (CB)	Ngcobo (CB)
Boril (LB)	Modiba (LB)
Soucek (DM)	Smit (DM)
Sadilek (DM)	Adams (DM)
Barak (RM)	Ndlondlo (RM)
Hlozek (AM)	Tau (AM)
Chaloupek (LM)	Dolly (LM)
Schick (ST)	Makgopa (ST)

Suspensions and availability

Player	Status
Yaya Sithole (South Africa)	SUSPENDED — red card vs Mexico, Match Day 1
Themba Zwane (South Africa)	SUSPENDED — red card vs Mexico, Match Day 1
Lyle Foster (South Africa)	Expected to drop to bench after poor performance vs Mexico

Key stats

• Czech Republic: lost 2-1 to South Korea in their Group A opener. Six-game winning run before the tournament ended.
• Czech Republic: scored in 9 consecutive matches before this tournament — expected to continue.
• Czech Republic: have lost their World Cup opener only twice before (1954, 1970).
• Ladislav Krejčí (Czech Republic): scored the opener’s only goal vs South Korea.
• Patrick Schick (Czech Republic): leads the attack.
• South Africa: lost 2-0 to Mexico (co-hosts) in their Group A opener at the Azteca Stadium.
• South Africa: first World Cup opening game in history to feature three red cards.
• Yaya Sithole and Themba Zwane: both SUSPENDED after red cards vs Mexico.
• South Africa: winless run extended to six matches after Mexico defeat. Scored just 1 goal in last 3.
• South Africa 2010 World Cup: beat France 2-1 in group stage on home soil.
• H2H: South Africa 2-2 Czech Republic (13 December 1997, FIFA Confederations Cup). Only previous meeting.
• Group A: Mexico (3pts), South Korea (3pts), Czech Republic (0pts), South Africa (0pts) after Match Day 1.

Head-to-head

Czech Republic and South Africa have met once previously: a 2-2 draw at the 1997 FIFA Confederations Cup. That remains the only encounter between the two nations. This World Cup Group A match is their first competitive meeting since.

Date	Result
13 December 1997	South Africa 2–2 Czech Republic (FIFA Confederations Cup)

Current form

Team	Last 5 (inc. WC opener)
Czech Republic	L W W W W
South Africa	L D D L D

Our prediction

Czech Republic are the stronger side on current form and have the more complete squad available for this fixture. Their six-game winning streak before the South Korea defeat demonstrated consistent quality, and their ability to score in nine consecutive matches suggests they will create chances against a depleted Bafana Bafana.

South Africa face this match in significant difficulty. The double suspension of Sithole and Zwane forces Broos into changes he had not planned, and the team’s confidence will have been dented by the manner of the Mexico defeat. Their winless run of six games and a single goal across three matches is a deeply concerning backdrop for a knockout-stage decider.

The motivation to avoid elimination is equal on both sides, but Czech Republic have the quality advantage and the more stable team selection to make it count.

Our prediction: Czech Republic to win.

Odds and markets

Odds correct at 1800hrs UTC on 18/06/26 and subject to change.

How to bet on SportPesa

1. Open the Czech Republic vs South Africa event page on SportPesa (link above).
2. Choose your market — Single Bet (SB), Multi-Bet (MB), or Live Bet (LB) once the match starts.
3. Enter your stake and place your bet.

Frequently asked questions

Build with Rank Math FAQ block to generate FAQPage schema automatically.

What time does Czech Republic vs South Africa kick off?

Kick-off is at 18:00 SAST (Thursday, 18 June 2026) on Thursday, 18 June 2026, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

What happened in South Africa’s first match at World Cup 2026?

South Africa lost 2-0 to co-hosts Mexico at the Azteca Stadium on 11 June 2026 in their Group A opener. The match featured three red cards — the first time the opening game of any World Cup has ended with three dismissals. Yaya Sithole and Themba Zwane were sent off for Bafana Bafana and are suspended for this fixture.

What happened in Czech Republic’s first match at World Cup 2026?

Czech Republic lost 2-1 to South Korea in their Group A opener. Ladislav Krejčí scored their only goal. It was only the third time in Czech football history that the nation has lost a World Cup opener.

What is the Czech Republic vs South Africa head-to-head record?

The sides have met once — a 2-2 draw at the 1997 FIFA Confederations Cup. This is their first competitive meeting since that fixture.

Can South Africa still qualify from Group A?

Yes. A win here would move South Africa to three points and keep their knockout round hopes alive heading into the final group match. A defeat would effectively end their tournament.

READ ALSO : Canada vs Qatar Prediction

Large vainqueur de Curaçao (7-1) pour son entrée en lice dans cette Coupe du monde, l’Germany a marqué les esprits et pris la tête du groupe E.

Un succès éclatant qui a rapidement ravivé l’enthousiasme des supporters allemands, en quête d’un retour au premier plan sur la scène internationale.

Mais malgré cette démonstration, le capitaine Joshua Kimmich a tenu à calmer l’emballement. Présent en conférence de presse ce mardi, le milieu allemand a salué la qualité de la prestation tout en rappelant que ce large score ne devait pas faire perdre de vue la réalité du tournoi.

Le joueur du FC Bayern Munich a reconnu que la victoire était attendue, mais que son ampleur restait remarquable. Selon lui, l’équipe devra attendre les prochaines rencontres pour véritablement mesurer son niveau.

Après ce premier succès, les quadruples champions du monde s’apprêtent à défier la Ivory Coast, victorieuse de l’Ecuador (1-0), avant de boucler leur phase de groupes face à Curaçao.

Toujours marquée par deux éliminations prématurées lors des deux dernières éditions du Mondial, l’Allemagne semble retrouver de la stabilité, portée par une série impressionnante de dix victoires consécutives.

Kimmich reste toutefois prudent. Il estime que les prochaines confrontations, face à des adversaires plus athlétiques et plus compétitifs, offriront un meilleur indicateur du potentiel réel de la Mannschaft. Le capitaine a également insisté sur la nécessité d’améliorer certains aspects défensifs, rappelant qu’encaisser un but, même contre un adversaire jugé inférieur, reste un point à corriger.

Malgré cette prudence, le leader allemand se veut optimiste : la dynamique actuelle confirme, selon lui, que son équipe avance dans la bonne direction.

The post Allemagne : Joshua Kimmich refuse de s’enflammer après le carton inaugural contre Curaçao appeared first on AfricaFootUnited.

Rassie Erasmus has never been shy to rotate in his Springboks match-day selections and just six of the match 23 who walloped Wales 73-0 in Cardiff in the last Test of 2025 will play the Barbarians in Gqeberha on Saturday in the first international match of 2026.

Rassie Erasmus plays his first 2026 Boks hand

There are many factors to Erasmus’s selections. He has a team of players on the injury list and another team unavailable with the Bulls playing the URC Grand Final against Leinster on Friday evening.

At least half the Bulls team is expected to be drafted into the national squad for the July Nations Championship Test matches against England, Wales and Scotland. All the matches are played in South Africa.

What is evident from Erasmus’s selections is how much depth has been built since the 2023 World Cup title win against the All Blacks. With more than 20 Test regulars unavailable, the Boks coach has still selected a match 23 that includes just two uncapped players in Junior Springboks captain Riley Norton (lock) and Vusi Moyo (10/15).

Norton will play for the Springboks before playing for the Stormers.

Siya Kolisi leads a match 23 that includes 10 World Cup winners.

The loose-trio of Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Jasper Wiese is the one expected to start against England on the 4th July at Ellis Park. Wingers Cheslin Kolbe, centre Jesse Kriel, scrumhalf Grant Williams, lock Franco Mostert and loosehead prop Ox Nche and hybrid midfielder/loose-forward Andre Esterhuizen should also be in the match 23 for July’s opening Test.

Springboks assistant coach Mzwandile Stick will coach an SA ‘A’ side against 2027 World Cup participants Zimbabwe’s Sables.

Stick and Erasmus have picked several Junior Springboks in the match 23 and balanced the selections with seasoned veterans like Stormers prop Neethling Fouche, 2019 World Cup-winning centre Lukhanyo Am and the Sharks’ Tshituka brothers Vincent and Manuel.

Of the match 23, 11 are 21 years-old and younger, with Stormers centre Markus Muller (18) and Sharks utility back Zekhethelo Siyaya (18) the youngest.

Comparing the latest Springboks 23 selected with the match 23 that played Wales last November:

Still in the Starting XV

Total still starting: 4 players

Position changes

• Franco Mostert has moved from blindside flank (No 7) to lock (No 5).

Still in the Match 23

Current starters who were in the Wales 23

• André Esterhuizen
• Siya Kolisi
• Jasper Wiese
• Franco Mostert

Current replacements who were in the Wales 23

• Zachary Porthen
• Ben-Jason Dixon

Total still in the match 23: 6 players

Players from the Wales 23 not in the latest 23

Starting XV

• Damian Willemse
• Ethan Hooker
• Damian de Allende
• Canan Moodie
• Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu
• Morne van den Berg
• Gerhard Steenekamp
• Johan Grobbelaar
• Wilco Louw
• Jean Kleyn
• Ruan Nortje

Replacements

• Bongi Mbonambi
• Asenathi Ntlabakanye
• Eben Etzebeth
• Marco van Staden
• Kwagga Smith
• Cobus Reinach

Continuity Snapshot

The latest selection retains four starters and six members of the overall match-day 23 from the team that faced Wales last November, underlining the extent to which Rassie Erasmus has rotated and expanded his player pool ahead of the 2027 World Cup.

SPRINGBOKS LAST MATCH OF 2025 & FIRST MATCH OF 2026 MATCH SQUADS

Players Common to Both Match 23s

Continuity: 4 of the starting XV remain, while 6 of the overall match 23 are retained.

SA ‘A’ TO PLAY ZIMBABWE SABLES

SOUTH AFRICA A – 15 Luan Giliomee, 14 Jaco Williams, 13 Markus Muller, 12 Lukhanyo Am, 11 Zekhethelo Siyaya, 10 Yaqeen Ahmed, 9 Haashim Pead, 8 Phepsi Buthelezi, 7 Bathobele Hlekani, 6 Emmanuel Tshituka, 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 Vincent Tshituka (c), 3 Neethling Fouché, 2 Siphosethu Mnebelele, 1 Boan Venter.
Bench: 16 Liam van Wyk, 17 Oliver Reid, 18 Hanro Jacobs, 19 Adré Smith, 20 Siba Mahashe, 21 Nico Steyn, 22 Imad Khan, 23 Jurenzo Julius.

Brazil vs Haiti Preview & Prediction. Brazil, five-time World Cup winners, face Haiti in their Group C Match Day 2 fixture at Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia on Friday, 19 June 2026 (02:30 SAST (Friday, 19 June 2026)). Brazil drew 1-1 with Morocco in their opener; Haiti lost 1-0 to Scotland. Brazil are heavy favourites. Our prediction: Brazil to win + over 2.5 goals. Full analysis, team news, H2H and all markets on SportPesa.

Match details

Field	Detail
Competition	2026 FIFA World Cup — Group C, Match Day 2
Date & kick-off	Friday, 19 June 2026 at 02:30 SAST (Friday, 19 June 2026)
Venue	Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Group C standings	After Match Day 1: Morocco 3pts, Scotland 3pts, Brazil 1pt, Haiti 0pts
Where to watch	DSTV/GOTV

Brazil need to bounce back; Haiti face their biggest test

Brazil were not at their best in their 2026 World Cup opener. A 1-1 draw against Morocco left Carlo Ancelotti’s side in third place in Group C with just one point. Vinicius Junior rescued a point with a stunning equaliser, but it was not the statement opening performance the five-time world champions and their supporters were expecting. Brazil have not lifted the World Cup since 2002 and have failed to progress beyond the quarter-finals in four of the last five editions. The pressure to perform is significant.

Brazil are the only nation to have appeared in every World Cup since 1930 — 22 consecutive tournaments. That record, combined with the depth of their squad, makes them among the tournament’s most credible contenders despite the slow start. Ancelotti has publicly maintained confidence that his side can still go all the way.

Haiti make their return to the World Cup after a 52-year absence — their only previous appearance was in 1974 in West Germany. They lost 1-0 to Scotland in their opener, a narrow defeat that reflects their competitive spirit. Against Brazil, however, they face the most daunting test of their entire campaign. Ranked 83rd in the world compared to Brazil’s sixth, the gap in quality between these two sides is the widest of any Group C fixture.

Group C also includes Morocco and Scotland, both of whom sit on three points after their Match Day 1 victories. Brazil need to win here to keep pace with the group leaders heading into the final round of fixtures.

Team news and expected line-ups

Brazil are expected to make one change from the Morocco draw. Igor Thiago struggled in the opener and is expected to make way for Matheus Cunha (Manchester United), who came off the bench against Morocco and made an immediate impact. Alisson continues in goal. Gabriel Magalhães and Marquinhos retain their central defensive partnership. Casemiro and Bruno Guimarães start in midfield. Vinicius Junior leads the attack.

Haiti are expected to name an unchanged XI from the Scotland defeat — their strongest available side.

Line-ups below are expected XIs. Update once confirmed XIs are released before kick-off. Confirm Cunha/Thiago selection.

Brazil (4-3-3)	Haiti (4-4-2)
Alisson (GK)	Voltaire (GK)
Danilo (RB)	Angella (RB)
G. Magalhaes (CB)	Pierre (CB)
Marquinhos (CB)	Sainvil (CB)
Guilherme (LB)	Coles (LB)
Casemiro (DM)	Doze (DM)
B. Guimaraes (DM)	Cantave (DM)
Gerson (RM)	Herard (RM)
Rodrygo (AM)	Belfort (AM)
Cunha (LM)	Guerrier (LM)
Vinicius Jr (ST)	Dossou (ST)

Key stats

• Brazil: five-time World Cup winners. Only nation to have appeared in every World Cup since 1930 (22 consecutive tournaments).
• Brazil: drew 1-1 with Morocco in their Group C opener. Vinicius Junior scored the equaliser.
• Brazil: ranked 6th in the world by FIFA. Unbeaten in last 4 outings before the Morocco draw.
• Brazil: failed to progress beyond the quarter-finals in 4 of the last 5 World Cups.
• Brazil: have scored in every game since a 1-0 defeat to Bolivia in September 2025.
• Brazil form (last 5): D W W W L — last defeat was a 2-1 friendly loss to France pre-tournament.
• Matheus Cunha (Manchester United): expected to start after impact sub appearance vs Morocco.
• Haiti: returning to the World Cup after a 52-year absence — last appearance was 1974 West Germany.
• Haiti: lost 1-0 to Scotland in their Group C opener.
• Haiti: ranked 83rd in the world. Only one win in their last 5 — a 4-0 friendly win over New Zealand.
• Haiti form (last 5): L L W D L.
• H2H: Brazil have won all 3 previous meetings, scoring 22 goals and conceding just 2.
• Group C standings (after Match Day 1): Morocco 3pts, Scotland 3pts, Brazil 1pt, Haiti 0pts.

Head-to-head

Brazil have a dominant head-to-head record against Haiti, winning all three previous meetings by a combined score of 22-2. The most recent encounter was a 7-1 Brazil victory in June 2016. Haiti have never scored more than one goal against Brazil in any fixture.

Date	Result
9 June 2016	Brazil 7–1 Haiti
19 August 2004	Haiti 0–6 Brazil
3 September 1959	Brazil 9–1 Haiti

Current form

Team	Last 5 (inc. WC opener)
Brazil	D W W W L
Haiti	L L W D L

Our prediction

The head-to-head record, the ranking gap, and the urgency of Brazil’s need for three points all point in one direction. Ancelotti’s side will be motivated to make a statement after the Morocco draw, and Haiti — ranked 77 places below them — are unlikely to provide the level of resistance Morocco did.

Haiti showed competitive spirit against Scotland and will not roll over. Their 4-0 win over New Zealand in a pre-tournament friendly shows they are capable of finding the net. But Brazil have conceded just twice in three previous meetings against them while scoring 22, and the quality gulf across every position in both squads is substantial. Vinicius Junior, Cunha, and Rodrygo represent an attacking unit that few defences in this tournament can contain.

A comfortable Brazil win with multiple goals is the most likely outcome. Ancelotti will be expecting a clinical performance to restore confidence ahead of the Group C decider.

Our prediction: Brazil to win + over 2.5 goals.

Odds and markets

Odds correct at 0230hrs UTC on 20/06/26 and subject to change.

How to bet on SportPesa

1. Open the Brazil vs Haiti event page on SportPesa (link above).
2. Choose your market — Single Bet (SB), Multi-Bet (MB), or Live Bet (LB) once the match starts.
3. Enter your stake and place your bet.

Frequently asked questions

Build with Rank Math FAQ block to generate FAQPage schema automatically.

What time does Brazil vs Haiti kick off?

Kick-off is at 02:30 SAST (Friday, 19 June 2026) on Friday, 19 June 2026, at Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.

What happened in Brazil’s first match at World Cup 2026?

Brazil drew 1-1 with Morocco in their Group C opener. Vinicius Junior scored a stunning equaliser after Morocco had taken the lead. The result left Brazil third in Group C with one point after Match Day 1.

What happened in Haiti’s first match at World Cup 2026?

Haiti lost 1-0 to Scotland in their Group C opener, leaving them bottom of the group with no points. It was a competitive performance for a side returning to the World Cup for the first time in 52 years.

What is the Brazil vs Haiti head-to-head record?

Brazil have won all three previous meetings: 9-1 in 1959, 6-0 in 2004, and 7-1 in 2016. Brazil have scored 22 goals and conceded just two across those three fixtures.

When did Haiti last play at the World Cup?

Haiti’s only previous World Cup appearance was in 1974 in West Germany. This 2026 campaign marks their return after a 52-year absence.

Can Brazil still qualify from Group C after drawing with Morocco?

Yes. Brazil sit third in Group C with one point after Match Day 1. A win against Haiti keeps their qualification push firmly on track. Morocco and Scotland both have three points, so Brazil need to win here to stay in contention for the top two spots.

READ ALSO : Czech Republic vs South Africa Prediction

C’est un sifflet ouzbek qui va diriger l’un des chocs européen-africain. Puisque l’Écosse va défier le Maroc ce vendredi 19 juin 2026, dans le cadre du deuxième match du groupe C. La direction du match est confiée à l’arbitre Ouzbek Ilgiz Tantashev, qui aura la lourde responsabilité de faire appliquer les lois du jeu entre ces deux nations.

Un quatuor arbitral 100% asiatique

Ilgiz Tantashev sera assisté par Andreu Tsapenko et Timur Gaynullin. Alors qu’Adham Makhadmed sera le 4e officiel, il sera assisté de Mohammad Alkalaf. Un trio d’assistants et un quatrième arbitre issus de la zone AFC pour accompagner Tantashev. La FIFA mise donc sur une équipe soudée et habituée aux grandes compétitions pour encadrer cette rencontre décisive du groupe C.

Un arbitre marqué par les JO de Paris 2024

L’arbitre s’etait blessé après 15 minutes de jeu lors de la demi-finale des Jeux Olympiques opposant le Maroc U23 à l’Espagne. Un souvenir particulier pour Tantashev qui retrouve le Maroc sur son chemin, deux ans plus tard. Revenu à son meilleur niveau, l’Ouzbek débarque à Boston avec l’objectif de diriger ce Ecosse – Maroc jusqu’au bout, sans encombre.

The post Coupe du Monde 2026 : Ilgiz Tantashev va diriger Ecosse – Maroc appeared first on AfricaFootUnited.