Mexico
Bafana’s first opponents are also the tournament’s co-hosts – and the most formidable side in the group. Mexico arrive in strong form having won back-to-back CONCACAF titles and have since drawn with Portugal and Belgium in high-profile friendlies.
They have not advanced beyond the group stage since 2018 – ending a remarkable streak of eight consecutive Round of 16 appearances between 1986 and 2018 – and will be desperate to go deep on home soil for the first time since reaching the quarter-finals in 1986.
Players to watch: Santiago Gimenez is one of the most clinical strikers in European football at AC Milan. Raul Jimenez provides experience and leadership from his time in the Premier League with Fulham. Guillermo Ochoa makes a record sixth World Cup appearance in goal.
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Czech Republic
The tournament’s most dramatic qualifiers arrive in form and well-organised under 74-year-old coach Miroslav Koubek.
Czech Republic won five consecutive matches leading into the tournament after beating Denmark on penalties in the playoff final to end a 20-year World Cup absence. They are a physically imposing, set-piece-oriented side that will make life very difficult for Bafana in Atlanta on 19 June.
Players to watch: Patrik Schick is their most dangerous attacking threat – a clinical striker with a history of scoring spectacular goals at major tournaments. Tomas Soucek provides physicality, experience and goals from midfield.
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South Korea
The Taeguk Warriors are Bafana’s final group opponents – and potentially their most dangerous. South Korea arrived at the World Cup after an unbeaten AFC qualifying campaign in which Son Heung-min scored 10 goals.
Their recent form reads WLLWW – with the two defeats coming in a difficult March window that exposed some defensive vulnerabilities. At their best they are technically superb and devastatingly quick on the counter-attack.
Players to watch: Son Heung-min remains the heartbeat of the side – captain, record scorer with 54 goals and the player most capable of winning a match on his own. Kim Min-jae provides the defensive leadership at Bayern Munich. Lee Kang-in of PSG – fresh from winning the Champions League – provides the creative spark behind Son.
Photo: Zamani Makautsi/Gallo Images
