Czech Republic v South Africa, 18 June 2026

Score1-1
RefereeTori Penso
CompetitionFIFA World Cup Group A
VenueMercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta GA
Attendance67,442

View Czech Republic v South Africa head to head

Kick-off: 12.00pm local . FIFA World Ranking: Czech Republic 40th, South Africa 60th . The only previous meeting was a FIFA Confederations Cup game played in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in December 1997 which ended in a 2-2 draw.

1 Czech Republic

Manager: Miroslav Koubek

1 South Africa

Manager: Hugo Broos

Goals:

Michal Sadílek 6 G

Goals:

Teboho Mokoena penalty 83 P

Starting lineup:

Goalkeeper Matěj Kovář
Defender Robin Hranáč
Defender/Midfielder Vladimír Coufal
Defender/Midfielder Tomáš Holeš
Defender/Midfielder Ladislav Krejčí (captain)
Midfielder Lukáš Cerv
Midfielder Vladimír Darida
Midfielder Michal Sadílek
Midfielder Alexandr Sojka
Forward Adam Hložek
Forward Patrik Schick

Starting lineup:

Ronwen Williams Goalkeeper (captain)
Mbekezeli Mbokazi Defender
Ime Okon Defender
Aubrey Modiba Defender/Midfielder
Teboho Mokoena Defender/Midfielder
Khuliso Mudau Defender/Midfielder
Jayden Adams Midfielder
Thalente Mbatha Midfielder
Oswin Appollis Midfielder/Forward
Thapelo Maseko Midfielder/Forward
Iqraam Rayners Midfielder/Forward

Substitutions:

Pavel Sulc for Vladimír Darida 55
Jaroslav Zelený for Alexandr Sojka 55
Lukáš Provod for Adam Hložek 67
Tomáš Souček for Michal Sadílek 67
David Zima for Lukáš Cerv 78

Substitutions:

Relebohile Mofokeng for Jayden Adams 46
Evidence Makgopa for Iqraam Rayners 66
Kamogelo Sebelebele for Thapelo Maseko 84

Cards:

Ladislav Krejčí 75 Y

Cards:

Teboho Mokoena 33 Y
Thalente Mbatha 40 Y

On the bench:

Goalkeeper Lukáš Horníček
Goalkeeper Jindřich Staněk
Defender Stěpán Chaloupek
Defender David Zima
Defender/Midfielder David Douděra
Defender/Midfielder Jaroslav Zelený
Midfielder Lukáš Provod
Midfielder Hugo Sochůrek
Midfielder Tomáš Souček
Midfielder Pavel Sulc
Midfielder/Forward Mojmír Chytil
Midfielder/Forward Denis Višinský
Forward Tomáš Chorý
Forward Jan Kuchta

On the bench:

Goalkeeper Sipho Chaine
Goalkeeper Ricardo Goss
Defender Bradley Cross
Defender Samukelo Kabini
Defender Olwethu Makhanya
Defender Thabang Matuludi
Defender Khulumani Ndamane
Defender Nkosinathi Sibisi
Midfielder/Forward Relebohile Mofokeng
Midfielder/Forward Tshepang Moremi
Midfielder/Forward Kamogelo Sebelebele
Forward Lyle Foster
Forward Evidence Makgopa

Comments:

Czech Republic failed in their attempt to win their first game at a FIFA World Cup tournament since a 3-0 group stage victory against USA in Gelsenkirchen, Germany on 12 June 2006. . At 35 years and 314 days, Vladimir Darida had now become the oldest-ever player to appear for the Czech Republic in a game at the FIFA World Cup finals: previously Karel Poborský versus Italy in Hamburg, Germany in 2006 (34 years and 84 days). NB includes games played by Czechoslovakia. . Michal Sadílek scored his only previous goal in a ‘A’ international game in a 4-1 win in a friendly against Montenegro in Podgorica on 20 June 2023. . Czech Republic named 14 of a possible 15 substitutes. David Jurásek suffered a thigh injury in training and was ruled out for the remainder of the tournament.

Comments:

South Africa avoided losing consecutive games at a FIFA World Cup tournament for the first time. . Bafana Bafana failed to progress past the group stage in their three previous FIFA World Cup finals appearances (1998, 2002 and 2010). . They had now won two, drawn two and lost two in their six games at FIFA World Cup finals against UEFA nations. . South Africa named 13 of a possible 15 substitutes. Sphephelo Sithole and Themba Zwane were serving a suspension after being shown a red card in the opening game against Mexico.

1 Czech Republic

Manager: Miroslav Koubek

Goals:

Michal Sadílek 6 G

Starting lineup:

Goalkeeper Matěj Kovář
Defender Robin Hranáč
Defender/Midfielder Vladimír Coufal
Defender/Midfielder Tomáš Holeš
Defender/Midfielder Ladislav Krejčí (captain)
Midfielder Lukáš Cerv
Midfielder Vladimír Darida
Midfielder Michal Sadílek
Midfielder Alexandr Sojka
Forward Adam Hložek
Forward Patrik Schick

Substitutions:

Pavel Sulc for Vladimír Darida 55
Jaroslav Zelený for Alexandr Sojka 55
Lukáš Provod for Adam Hložek 67
Tomáš Souček for Michal Sadílek 67
David Zima for Lukáš Cerv 78

Cards:

Ladislav Krejčí 75 Y

On the bench:

Goalkeeper Lukáš Horníček
Goalkeeper Jindřich Staněk
Defender Stěpán Chaloupek
Defender David Zima
Defender/Midfielder David Douděra
Defender/Midfielder Jaroslav Zelený
Midfielder Lukáš Provod
Midfielder Hugo Sochůrek
Midfielder Tomáš Souček
Midfielder Pavel Sulc
Midfielder/Forward Mojmír Chytil
Midfielder/Forward Denis Višinský
Forward Tomáš Chorý
Forward Jan Kuchta

Comments:

Czech Republic failed in their attempt to win their first game at a FIFA World Cup tournament since a 3-0 group stage victory against USA in Gelsenkirchen, Germany on 12 June 2006. . At 35 years and 314 days, Vladimir Darida had now become the oldest-ever player to appear for the Czech Republic in a game at the FIFA World Cup finals: previously Karel Poborský versus Italy in Hamburg, Germany in 2006 (34 years and 84 days). NB includes games played by Czechoslovakia. . Michal Sadílek scored his only previous goal in a ‘A’ international game in a 4-1 win in a friendly against Montenegro in Podgorica on 20 June 2023. . Czech Republic named 14 of a possible 15 substitutes. David Jurásek suffered a thigh injury in training and was ruled out for the remainder of the tournament.

1 South Africa

Manager: Hugo Broos

Goals:

Teboho Mokoena penalty 83 P

Starting lineup:

Ronwen Williams Goalkeeper (captain)
Mbekezeli Mbokazi Defender
Ime Okon Defender
Aubrey Modiba Defender/Midfielder
Teboho Mokoena Defender/Midfielder
Khuliso Mudau Defender/Midfielder
Jayden Adams Midfielder
Thalente Mbatha Midfielder
Oswin Appollis Midfielder/Forward
Thapelo Maseko Midfielder/Forward
Iqraam Rayners Midfielder/Forward

Substitutions:

Relebohile Mofokeng for Jayden Adams 46
Evidence Makgopa for Iqraam Rayners 66
Kamogelo Sebelebele for Thapelo Maseko 84

Cards:

Teboho Mokoena 33 Y
Thalente Mbatha 40 Y

On the bench:

Goalkeeper Sipho Chaine
Goalkeeper Ricardo Goss
Defender Bradley Cross
Defender Samukelo Kabini
Defender Olwethu Makhanya
Defender Thabang Matuludi
Defender Khulumani Ndamane
Defender Nkosinathi Sibisi
Midfielder/Forward Relebohile Mofokeng
Midfielder/Forward Tshepang Moremi
Midfielder/Forward Kamogelo Sebelebele
Forward Lyle Foster
Forward Evidence Makgopa

Comments:

South Africa avoided losing consecutive games at a FIFA World Cup tournament for the first time. . Bafana Bafana failed to progress past the group stage in their three previous FIFA World Cup finals appearances (1998, 2002 and 2010). . They had now won two, drawn two and lost two in their six games at FIFA World Cup finals against UEFA nations. . South Africa named 13 of a possible 15 substitutes. Sphephelo Sithole and Themba Zwane were serving a suspension after being shown a red card in the opening game against Mexico.