World Cup 2026 Bafana, fixtures & where to bet.
The biggest tournament in football kicks off on 11/06/2026 with hosts Mexico against South Africa at Estadio Azteca. Bafana Bafana are in Group A. 48 teams. 12 groups. One champion. Your full guide to fixtures, group tables, the knockout bracket, the Golden Boot race, and the best South African sportsbook for every match.
South Africa’s road through Group A.
South Africa open the tournament against hosts Mexico at Estadio Azteca. Group A also features South Korea and Czech Republic. Every kick-off below is shown in SAST.
48 teams. 12 groups. 1 shot.
Bafana qualified through CAF for the first time since 2010. Three group matches. Top two and the best third place go through to a brand new Round of 32.
Mexico · Hosts
South Korea
Czech Republic
Mexico
v
South Africa
Czech Republic
v
South Africa
South Africa
v
South Korea
World Cup 2026 at a glance.
This is the first 48 team World Cup. The format adds a Round of 32 between the group stage and Round of 16. Top two from each group plus the eight best third placed teams advance. South Africa qualified through CAF for the first time since 2010.
Opening match
Mexico v South Africa
Estadio Azteca · Thu 11/06/2026 · 21:00 SAST
Final
MetLife Stadium
East Rutherford, New Jersey · Sun 19/07/2026
Dates
11/06 to 19/07
39 days of football
Teams
48
Up from 32 in 2022
Groups
12 of 4
A through L
Matches
104
+40 vs Qatar 2022
Hosts
CAN · MEX · USA
16 host cities
Holders
Argentina
Won 2022 in Qatar
SA group
Group A
MEX, KOR, CZE
SA return
First since 2010
Qualified via CAF
12 groups, 48 teams, 72 matches.
Each team plays three matches. Top two advance. The eight best third placed teams also advance, bringing the knockout field to 32. Tables update after every result.
Mexico0South Africa0South Korea0Czech Republic0
Canada0
Bosnia & Herzegovina0
Qatar0
Switzerland0
Brazil0
Morocco0
Haiti0
Scotland0
USA0
Paraguay0
Australia0
Türkiye0
Germany0
Curaçao0
Ivory Coast0
Ecuador0
Netherlands0
Japan0
Sweden0
Tunisia0
Belgium0
Egypt0
Iran0
New Zealand0
Spain0
Cape Verde Islands0
Saudi Arabia0
Uruguay0
France0
Senegal0
Iraq0
Norway0
Argentina0
Algeria0
Austria0
Jordan0
Portugal0
Congo DR0
Uzbekistan0
Colombia0
England0
Croatia0
Ghana0
Panama0Upcoming World Cup match previews.
Each preview includes form, head to head record, our model prediction and the best South African sportsbook for the price.
Round of 32 to the Final.
The knockout bracket fills in after group stage matchday 3 on 25/06/2026. The Round of 32 is new for 2026. From there it is single elimination through to the final on 19/07/2026.
Top scorers at the 2026 World Cup.
Live leaderboard updated after every match. Kylian Mbappé won the Golden Boot in 2022 with 8 goals. The 2026 record holder will need at least 6 in 7 matches.
Top scorers feed unavailable.
Live data goes here once Mexico v South Africa kicks off on 11/06.
Notify me when live →Defending Golden Boot · Qatar 2022
Kylian Mbappé
France · Forward · #10
All 48 nations at the 2026 World Cup.
Tap any team for its full World Cup schedule, squad, group standing and the best partner sportsbook for their next match.
Best South African sportsbooks for the World Cup.
All five partner books below are licensed for South African players. Each match preview pulls in the best price across them for the three way result. For tournament outright bets, these are the books we trust.
YesPlay
FICA fast, big pre-match World Cup odds boards.
Pokerbet
WCGRB licensed, strong outright market depth.
Cloudbet
Crypto first, deepest 90+ minute markets.
World Cup 2026 FAQ.
When does the 2026 World Cup start?
The tournament kicks off on 11/06/2026 at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. The opening match is Mexico against South Africa at 21:00 SAST. The final is on 19/07/2026 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Where can I watch the World Cup in South Africa?
SuperSport and the SABC will share World Cup broadcast rights for the South African market. Bafana matches are expected on free to air via SABC. Check your local listings closer to the tournament for kick off times in SAST.
Which group is South Africa in?
South Africa is in Group A alongside hosts Mexico, South Korea, and Czech Republic. Bafana play Mexico on 11/06/2026, Czech Republic on 18/06/2026, and South Korea on 25/06/2026. All three group games are previewed on this site.
How does the new 48 team format work?
For the first time, the World Cup has 48 teams instead of 32. There are 12 groups of 4. The top two from each group plus the eight best third placed teams advance to a new Round of 32. From there it is single elimination through Round of 16, quarter finals, semi finals, and the final. There are 104 matches in total, up from 64 in 2022.
What is the safest way to bet on the World Cup in South Africa?
Only bet with a sportsbook licensed by a South African provincial gambling board. Our five partner books (YesPlay, Pokerbet, Betshezi, Gbets, Cloudbet) all hold valid licences and process FICA before any cashout. Set a deposit limit before the tournament starts and stick to it.
Who are the World Cup 2026 favourites?
At the time of writing, the pre tournament favourites are France, Spain, Brazil, England and defending champions Argentina. The full odds market is volatile until the final group draw confirmations. Check each match preview for the latest model based prediction and best partner price.