24/06/2026

SPORTS WEDNESDAY | JUNE 24, 2026

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El Tri face desperate rivals Co-hosts Mexico have been flawless defensively, but the Czech’s urgency could make this their toughest group-stage test 2026 WORLD CUP

M EXICO have already booked their place in the knockout stage and guaranteed top spot in Group A, but tomorrow’s match against the Czech Republic (9am Malaysian time) may still carry more risk than the standings suggest. The co-hosts enter their last group match at Estadio Azteca with six points from two games, having beaten South Africa and South Korea without con ceding a goal. Czech Republic arrive with one point after a 2-1 defeat by South Korea and a 1-1 draw with South Africa, leaving them in urgent need of a result to keep their tournament hopes alive. That imbalance gives the match its edge. Mexico remain the better-positioned team as they are unbeaten and backed by a home crowd, but Czech Republic’s greater urgency, combined with the possibility of Mexican rota tion, could make the night more complicated for the hosts. Coach Javier Aguirre faces the familiar dilemma of an already-qualified team of whether to protect key players before the knockout stage or maintain rhythm and momentum in front of their own supporters. Mexico have been efficient rather than spectacu lar. Their defensive record has provided the founda tion for early qualification, but their attack may still seek greater fluency before the next round. Aguirre’s concession after edging South Korea 1-0 through Luis Romo’s goal that it “wasn’t a great match” underlined that Mexico still have room to improve despite their perfect record. The Czechs’ problem has been turning promising positions into results. They led against South Korea before losing, then went ahead against South Africa through Michal Sadilek before conceding a late pen alty. Coach Miroslav Koubek said after the draw with the African side that Czech Republic had been closer to victory, a reflection of both their threat and the frustration of failing to turn pressure into three points. Patrik Schick remains their attacking focal point, while Tomas Soucek and Ladislav Krejci provide aerial presence that could test Mexico,

Schick

Patrick

especially from set pieces and deliveries into the box. Those situations may be Czech Republic’s clearest route to unsettling a Mexico side that could be balancing ambition with caution. South Africa and South Korea both have victory on their agenda for their decisive World Cup Group A clash in Monterrey on tomorrow (9am) where similar playing styles could produce an eye-catching spectacle. Avoiding early elimination is South Africa’s stated ambition for this tournament, having failed in their previ ous appearances, including as hosts 16 years ago, but they have their backs to the wall after some questionable tac tics. A defensive approach against Mexico was counter to their usual attacking approach, and, combined with the pressure of the occasion, South Africa looked at sea in losing the tournament’s opening match. They were much improved in the second half against the Czechs where they had a full arsenal of attacking players on the field. A pacey approach, using the wings but also trying to penetrate through the middle of the field, is similar to what South Korea are likely to employ, and the prospect of two sides attacking each other in a toe-to-toe contest might be a refreshing spectacle in a tournament where many teams sit back and look to the transi tion to create their scoring opportunities.

Alvarez

Edson

South Africa, however, must do without mid field kingpin Teboho Mokoena, who is ineligi ble after picking up his second yellow card in two matches last week, and veteran play maker Themba Zwane, also suspended after he was sent off during the Mexico match and handed a three-match ban. “We can’t be thinking about which key players won’t play for them because it could make us feel compla cent,” said South Korea coach Hong Myung-bo. “I watched both of

their matches so far, and they have good speed. We have to be

well organised against them.” – Reuters

Canada eye first WC knockout round berth as Bosnia, Qatar fight for third

could hamper their chances of progress if they are level on points with rival third placed teams. With two points surely not enough to qualify, a draw is no use to either side and could make for an open game. Neither nation have made it out of the group before, though, and are more comfortable setting up to defend and counter. Coach Sergej Barbarez said Muharemovic would be missed for the must-win game, but added: “I don’t like whining. I think we have a sufficient num ber of good players to replace him.” Qatar, meanwhile, will miss both Ahmed and Assim Madibo after they were sent off against Canada, with Madibo’s rash challenge leaving Ismael Kone with a broken leg. Their coach Julen Lopetegui sought to emphasise the positives after last week’s hammering, saying Qatar still had every thing to play for. “There are other countries, big coun tries, they are looking at the World Cup on TV – and we are here,” he said after the Canada game. “Now we have one final in front of us.” – Reuters

win over Bosnia and Herzegovina and now need one point against Canada to secure a round-of-32 place in the expanded tournament. The Swiss have negotiated their way out of the group stage in five of their last six World Cup campaigns but have tasted defeat in the round of 16 on each of those occasions. Bosnia and Herzegovina and Qatar go into their final World Cup Group B game tomorrow (3am) knowing they realistically must win to progress, with a possible last-32 clash against co-hosts the United States the prize on offer. The two sides began their tourna ments well enough as Bosnia held Canada to a creditable draw while Qatar, whose only previous finals appearance was on home soil in 2022, snatched a late equaliser against Switzerland. Their disastrous second matches, however, leave them targeting third in Group B, which could set up a knockout game against the US in San Francisco on July 1 – but only if one of them can grab all three points in Seattle. The hefty margins of defeat severely damaged their goal difference, which

choice but to rely on someone from his bench to step up in the high-stakes clash against Switzerland. “Everybody’s a little shaken by the whole experience. Ismael is a big part of the heart of our team,” said Marsch. “He’s a bit of an X factor for us, and we’ll miss him. But I think we have good players who can step in.” Nathan Saliba replaced Kone in the game against Qatar and moments after entering the game made it 4-0, cele brating by holding Kone’s No. 8 jersey aloft before kissing it and making the sign of the cross. There will also be questions about the fitness of Canada captain Alphonso Davies, who has yet to play in this World Cup as he continues his recovery from a hamstring injury suffered in early May. Davies was available for Canada’s win over Qatar but did not enter the match. Canada and Switzerland have four points from two games, though the World Cup co-hosts are top of the Group B standings due to a superior goal dif ference. Switzerland, who started the World Cup as Group B favourites, opened with a draw against Qatar followed by a 4-1

A CANADA side rallying around the loss of injured midfielder Ismael Kone face Switzerland tomorrow (3am) needing a win or draw to secure top spot in Group B and their first World Cup knockout round appearance. Canada will be without the services of Kone when they line up against three time quarterfinalists Switzerland as the linchpin midfielder suffered a broken leg following a tackle by Qatar’s Assim Madibo during the co-host’s 6-0 thrash ing of Qatar last week that gave them their first World Cup win. It was a devastating blow given Kone is considered the heartbeat of Canada’s midfield, and without his energy Jesse Marsch’s men could be a less threaten ing pressing side going into their group stage finale at Vancouver’s BC Place. “He means everything to this team,” Jonathan David, Canada’s all-time lead ing scorer, said of his injured teammate. “It was a difficult moment. “But we have to stay strong for him, and do it for him.” Replacing the midfielder will be no easy feat for Marsch, who acknowl edged the absence of Kone “weakens us in the tournament”, but he will have no