Group A: Standings, Teams & Matches
The 4 teams in Group A, the final table showing who won the group, and all 6 group games with their final scores.
Teams
Standings (the group table)
| Position# | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mexico | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | +6 | 9 |
| 2 | South Africa | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 4 |
| 3 | South Korea | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 3 |
| 4 | Czech Republic | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 | -4 | 1 |
How to read this table:
- P = games played, W = won
- D = drew (a tie, no winner)
- L = lost, GF = goals scored
- GA = goals let in
- GD = goal difference (goals scored minus goals let in)
- Pts = points.
A team gets 3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, and 0 for a loss.
The team with the most points sits on top.
The top 2 teams (highlighted) move on to the next round, and so do the 8 teams that finish third with the best records across all 12 groups. See exactly how teams qualify.
How did Group A finish?
Mexico made this their group, just like the whole country hoped.
The co-hosts won all 3 games, finished top on 9 points, and did not let in a single goal along the way.
That is exactly the start a nation dreaming of more than another quarter-final exit wanted to see.
Behind them, South Africa pulled off the quiet success of the group.
They were the lowest ranked side here, yet they grabbed 2nd place on 4 points and reached the knockout rounds.
South Korea are the big name heading home, and it is a cruel way to go.
They finished 3rd on 3 points, but they missed the cut for the 8 best 3rd-place spots, so they are out.
The Czech Republic finish at the bottom of the group on 1 point, so the only European team in the group goes home too.
So the final order is Mexico, then South Africa, with South Korea and the Czech Republic both out.
Mexico topped the group in style, and their home crowd loved every minute of it.
Games (matches)
- MexicoSouth AfricaEstadio Azteca, Mexico CityJun 112-0
- South KoreaCzech RepublicEstadio Akron, ZapopanJun 112-1
- Czech RepublicSouth AfricaMercedes-Benz Stadium, AtlantaJun 181-1
- MexicoSouth KoreaEstadio Akron, ZapopanJun 181-0
- Czech RepublicMexicoEstadio Azteca, Mexico CityJun 240-3
- South AfricaSouth KoreaEstadio BBVA, GuadalupeJun 241-0
Common questions
Who won Group A?
Mexico won Group A with a perfect 9 points from 3 wins. The co-hosts did not let in a single goal across their 3 games. They were the strongest team in the group from start to finish.
Which teams qualified from Group A?
Mexico and South Africa both went through from Group A. Mexico won the group on 9 points, and South Africa took 2nd place on 4 points. South Africa were the lowest ranked side here, so reaching the knockouts was a real achievement.
Are South Korea out of the World Cup?
Yes, South Korea are out. They finished 3rd in Group A on 3 points, just short of South Africa above them. They missed the cut for the 8 best 3rd-place spots, so they are heading home.
Who are the players to watch from Group A?
Mexico carry the group's biggest stars into the knockouts, led by veteran goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa and 17-year-old Gilberto Mora, one of the brightest young talents in the world. South Africa lean on their organized team unit after their surprise run to 2nd. Both teams hoped these names would keep delivering in the next round.
What were the final Group A standings?
Mexico finished top on 9 points, with South Africa 2nd on 4 points. South Korea came 3rd on 3 points and the Czech Republic finished at the bottom of the group on 1 point. Mexico and South Africa went through, while South Korea and the Czech Republic are out.