The second round of group games at the 2026 World Cup began in Atlanta as Czechia and South Africa locked horns at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Both nations suffered defeats in their opening games and needed to get points on the board to avoid an early exit.
Match Background
Bafana Bafana took on co-hosts Mexico in the first game of the whole tournament, going down 2-0 at the Azteca in an entertaining curtain-raiser. Hours later, Czechia took the lead against South Korea but fell to a 2-1 loss as the Asian side's dominance finally told. With Mexico and South Korea facing off seven hours later, it opened the door for one of these two teams to move into the top two spots and stake their claim for a knockout stage spot. This was only the second time these two teams had played each other, and the first since the 1997 FIFA Confederations Cup.
Live Updates
GOAL! Czechia 1-0 South Africa (6 mins): Michal Sadilek opened the scoring! Sadilek was played in by Alexandr Sojka with a deft pass, and he finished nicely past Williams in the South Africa goal. Terrible start for Bafana Bafana; great one for the Czechs.
8 mins: It was Alexandr Sojka who played Sadilek in with a deft pass.
9 mins: Czechia looking dangerous, as Coufal breaks behind the South Africa line, but he's offside.
12 mins: Appollis takes a strike from way out and the deflected shot hits the side netting. Corner South Africa. Better.
15 mins: South Africa have settled down now, as they put some passes together in their own half.
16 mins: Chance for South Africa, as a cross bounces off Maseko, trickling out for a Czech goal kick.
18 mins: Becoming a bit more end-to-end, as Schick fails to meet a header and Appollis nearly meets goalkeeper Williams' long ball.
20 mins: Krejci fouls Maseko and is lucky to escape without a yellow card.
23 mins: First hydration break. Czechia 1-0 South Africa.
GOAL! Sadilek fires home early opener.
