By Opta Analyst | Created at 2026-06-17 11:17:59 | Updated at 2026-06-19 11:50:35
2 days ago
Czechia or South Africa could be the first team eliminated from the 2026 FIFA World Cup. We look ahead to the match with our preview and prediction.
Czechia vs South Africa: The Key Insights
- The Opta supercomputer makes Czechia the favourites with a 54.9% win probability, compared to South Africa’s 21.8%.
- In Czechia’s Miroslav Koubek (74 years, 290 days) and South Africa’s Hugo Broos (74y 69d), this will be the first match in World Cup history to see both head coaches aged over 70.
- Teboho Mokoena completed 92.9% of his passes (39/42) against Mexico, the highest ratio by a South Africa player to attempt 40+ passes in a World Cup match.
Czechia and South Africa both have a point to prove when they go head-to-head in a crunch World Cup Group A match at Atlanta Stadium on Thursday.
Despite taking the lead in their opening game against South Korea through Ladislav Krejcí, Czechia succumbed to a 2-1 loss following goals from Hwang In-beom and Oh Hyeon-gyu.
The tournament feels like it has only just begun, but Czechia already know that a defeat to South Africa alongside Mexico avoiding defeat against South Korea would bring an early end to their World Cup campaign. They need to make sure they get a result here.
“We’re facing something completely different to [when facing] Korea. We definitely want to keep the ball more and be more confident,” said striker Tomás Chory.
“I think we have what it takes to get into good positions. We can see in training that we’re good at it, we just need to transfer that to the match.”
Czechia will hope to have an increased share of possession after South Korea controlled it in their previous outing, limiting them to just seven shots with a cumulative expected goals (xG) value of 0.83.
And although they are yet to secure a point, the Opta supercomputer still gives them a 51.7% chance of reaching the last 32, suggesting they have the quality to get a result here.
Czechia have only lost their opening two games at a World Cup twice before, and those instances were all the way back in 1954 and 1970.
Should Krejcí find the back of the net again versus South Africa, he will join Oldrich Nejedly (1934, 1938), Ladislav Petras (1970) and Michal Bílek (1990) as the only players to score in the first two games of a World Cup for Czechia.
Czechia’s chances are boosted by South Africa being without Yaya Sithole and Themba Zwane, who were both shown red cards as they lost 2-0 to co-hosts Mexico in the opening game of the tournament.
In that game, South Africa posted their lowest totals for shots (3), xG (0.07), passes into the opposition box (12) and successful final-third passes (25) in a World Cup match, while their two touches in the opposition’s box were their joint fewest ever.
Bafana Bafana were caught short by Mexico’s high press for both goals, leading to criticism of coach Hugo Broos and goalkeeper Ronwen Williams.
Fellow keeper Ricardo Goss lept to the defence of Broos, who he has no doubt can help the team avoid losing back-to-back World Cup matches for the first time in their history.
“It’s just unfortunate that we aren’t realistic enough as South Africa. I’m not saying we shouldn’t go try and win games but I think it’s unfair on the coach … We still love him and we’re going to play for him,” said Goss.
South Africa also know their future in the competition is on the line, as a loss to Czechia and South Korea avoiding defeat against Mexico would be enough to dump them out.
Broos could look to Relebohile Mofokeng as a replacement for the suspended Zwane, while Thalante Mbatha is likely to be called upon in the absence of Sithole.
South Africa only have a 23.9% chance of making it through to the knockout rounds, according to the Opta supercomputer, and a positive result against Czechia will be key to keeping that possibility alive.
Czechia vs South Africa Head-to-Head
Czechia and South Africa have only met once before, and that came at the Confederations Cup in 1997. That game finished 2-2, with Vladimír Smicer scoring a double.
South Africa have gone up against European opposition in the World Cup on six occasions. Their most recent such match was a memorable 2-1 victory over France that dumped Les Bleus out of the 2010 World Cup.
Bafana Bafana have lost just one of their last four World Cup matches against European opposition – a 3-2 defeat to Spain in 2002.
Czechia, meanwhile, lost their only previous World Cup game against African opposition, going down 2-0 to Ghana in 2006.
Czechia vs South Africa Prediction
Czechia fared far better than South Africa in the Opta supercomputer’s 10,000 pre-match simulations.
Koubek’s side won 54.9% of the projections, with South Africa triumphing in 21.8%.
A draw, which would keep both teams in the hunt for qualification, has a probability of 23.3% – that is more likely than a South Africa victory.
Czechia vs South Africa Squads
Czechia: Matej Kovár, Jindrich Stanek, Lukás Hornícek, David Zima, Tomás Holes, Robin Hranác, Vladimír Coufal, Stepán Chaloupek, Ladislav Krejcí, David Jurásek, Jaroslav Zeleny, Vladimír Darida, Lukás Cerv, Pavel Sulc, Lukás Provod, Michal Sadílek, David Doudera, Tomás Soucek, Alexandr Sojka, Hugo Sochurek, Denis Visinsky, Adam Hlozek, Patrik Schick, Jan Kuchta, Mojmír Chytil, Tomás Chory.
South Africa: Ronwen Williams, Sipho Chaine, Ricardo Goss, Thabang Matuludi, Khulumani Ndamane, Aubrey Modiba, Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Samukele Kabini, Nkosinathi Sibisi, Khuliso Mudau, Ime Okon, Olwethu Makhanya, Bradley Cross, Teboho Mokoena, Thalente Mbatha, Themba Zwane, Yaya Sithole, Jayden Adams, Kamogelo Sebelebele, Oswin Appollis, Tshepang Moremi, Lyle Foster, Relebohile Mofokeng, Thapelo Maseko, Iqraam Rayners, Evidence Makgopa.
Czechia vs South Africa Predicted Lineups
Enjoy this? Add Opta Analyst as a preferred source by clicking here.
Subscribe to our football newsletter to receive exclusive weekly content. You should also follow our social accounts over on X, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook.
