- Mexico is a big favorite over South Africa in Mexico City in the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. South Africa earned a draw against Mexico in the opening match of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
- South Korea and Czechia have nearly identical odds in the second match of the tournament. Czechia won two qualifying matches to earn a spot in the World Cup.
MEXICO CITY – The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off Thursday afternoon as Mexico hosts South Africa at 3 PM EST, followed by South Korea vs Czechia in two Group A matches.
Mexico vs South Africa Match Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico | -1, -1.5 (EVEN) | -235 | O 2.5 (+118) |
| South Africa | +1, +1.5 (-120) | +700 | U 2.5 (-143) |
Mexico is a heavy favorite in the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, earning -235 odds at legal sports betting sites. The odds of a draw sit at +350, while a win for South Africa has +700 odds. They will of course have home field advantage playing in Mexico City which should give them a boost right out of the gates.
The Mexican team has not lost in seven matches thus far in 2026, winning five friendlies while drawing against Portugal and Belgium. South Africa has not had the same kind of success, losing three and drawing in two of their five matches this year.
The two teams faced off in the opening match of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, resulting in a 1-1 draw. A repeat seems unlikely given the state of the two teams and the added benefit of playing in front of home fans for Mexico.
South Korea vs Czechia Match Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Korea | 0.0 (-115) | +170 | O 2.0 (-148) |
| Czechia | 0.0 (-105) | +180 | U 2.0 (+122) |
The second leg of the day is much more evenly matched than the first, with South Korea an ever so slight favorite with +170 odds as opposed to Czechia at +180. Odds of a draw are slightly lower at +215.
The spread is 0.0, which means bettors can get their money back from World Cup betting sites in the event of a draw with the caveat of slightly shorter odds.
South Korea has had an up-and-down 2026 to this point, losing their first two friendlies by a combined 5-0 margin, then defeating Trinidad and Tobago as well as El Salvador by a combined 6 goals to none.
Czechia defeated Ireland and Denmark in qualifiers, both by PKs, to earn a spot in the tournament. They would then go on to win each of their next two friendlies against Kosovo and Guatemala to carry some momentum coming into the World Cup.
