While Mexico had already wrapped up the group previously, there was still the matter of second place to be decided by South Korea and South Africa, with the 2010 hosts needing and getting the result they needed to join El Tri in the next round.
MEXICO 3, CZECHIA 0
Mexico was able to make a handful of changes in this one, resting striker Raul Jimenez and starting wonderkid Gilberto Mora among other moves. The Czechs also made changes with regulars Patrik Schick and Tomas Soucek entering the game off the bench in the second half.
No matter what the Czechs did this tournament, their offense was just about no where to be found and with the game begging to be won, Mexico obliged.
Luis Romo found himself surrounded by three defenders at midfield, but was able to spring his left back Mateo Chavez free down the right channel in the 55th minute. The AZ Alkmaar man then dodged one sliding challenge on his way into the penalty area and coolly slotted a left footed finish past Matej Kovar.
Jake Catanese
Barely five minutes later, Mexico had all but assured themselves a sweep of the points when Mora played in right back Jorge Sanchez making a splendid center forward run in the middle of the box. Sanchez and Kovar got to the spot at the same time, with the ball ending up behind both of them. Defender Tomas Holes tried to clear the danger but his effort struck a now sprawled out Sanchez, who knew nothing about the assist he was about to be credited with as Julian Quinones poked home the second.
Alvaro Fidalgo closed this one out in stoppage time, as El Tri capitalized on a rebound chance when Roberto Alvarado collected the loose ball and laid off a simple backpass for the Real Betis midfielder to smash into the upper corner.
Memo Ochoa gets his ‘homemaje’. One last time at Estadio Azteca for the legendary Mexican goalkeeper, 6 World Cups.
— herculez gomez (@herculezg) June 25, 2026
No Memo, No Party. 🎊 #Mexico pic.twitter.com/T2g2KE3hsE
Legendary keeper Memo Ochoa subbed in late in the game for what is likely to be his final international appearance for El Tri.
SOUTH AFRICA 1, SOUTH KOREA 0
You know what seems like a bad idea without needing hindsight? Leaving your all time leading goal scorer on the bench for the first half in a must get a result match at a World Cup.
For the second straight game, South Korea's offensive woes continued and they didn't need a mistake at the back to lose this game.
Jake Catanese
In the 63rd minute largely against the run of play, when substitute Tshepang Moremi who had just entered the game a minute prior, sped down the left wing. Near the top of the box he cut back and sent a ball across the length of the penalty area where Thapelo Maseko got the ball onto his left foot a threaded a shot that nutmegged his marker and beat Kim Seung-Gyu at his near post.
Despite making wholesale changes at halftime and dominating possession this tournament, the Taegeuk Warriors have struggled to generate high quality chances. They fell behind in all three of their matches around the same time in the second half and one of their best chances today was a failed backheel attempt in the first half as they barely got to just under 1.0 xG created for the match.
GROUP OVERVIEW
Group A play is officially in the books with Mexico taking all 9 points pic.twitter.com/jDaiYjQG29
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 25, 2026
What a turnaround for Bafana Bafana who were practically written in ink for being one of the worst teams in the tournament after their opener against Mexico when they finished with nine men. Their win sets up South Africa with Canada as the runner-ups of Group B, that match set for Sunday, June 28 from Inglewood, California.
Mexico awaits one of the third-place opponents for their match on Tuesday, June 30 from Mexico City with Scotland of Group C if they advance being the likely matchup. South Korea will also have to wait and see if they get matched up against one of the group winners with a potential Wednesday, July 1 match with Egypt based on current positions.
