Everything you need to know when the Czech Republic face South Africa in the 2026 World Cup
The Czech Republic will face more physicality and less speed as they chase their first points of the 2026 World Cup against South Africa in Atlanta on Thursday, according to defender Jaroslav Zelený.
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Ladislav Krejčí gave Miroslav Koubek’s side a second-half lead that they failed to maintain in their 2-1 loss to South Korea in Zapopan on the first matchday.
“The match will be a little more physical,” predicted Sparta Pragas Zelený. “Even when the sun isn’t shining here, it’s terribly oppressive, so the training is very demanding.
“If it was like in Mexico everywhere, it would be comfortable. But unfortunately it’s not like that here, so we have to get used to it because there’s nothing we can do about it,” he said.
Bafana Bafana had a night to forget in the first match of the tournament, when they lost 2-0 to Mexico with nine players.
“It was a good wake-up call for us,” head coach Hugo Broos told FIFA. “We know what we did wrong and what we have to do.
“People talk about tactics, but it has nothing to do with tactics. It was experience we lacked in that game.
“This was the first time for all the players that they played in such an environment, in such a stadium and in front of such a crowd.
“I have a group of boys who learn very quickly, and we will see a completely different team against the Czech Republic.
World Cup 2026: Czech Republic vs South Africa – Team Updates
South Africa will have to do without midfielders Yaya Sithole and Themba Zwane, who both received direct red cards against Mexico.
Czech Republic v South Africa: World Cup 2026 – Predicted line-ups
Czech Republic starting eleven: Matěj Kovář, Ladislav Krejčí, Robin Hranáč, Štěpán Chaloupek, Jaroslav Zelený, Alexandr Sojka, Tomáš Souček, Vladimír Coufal, Pavel Šulc, Lukáš Provod, Patrik Schick
South Africa’s starting eleven: Ronwen Williams, Aubrey Modiba, Mvelase Mbokazi, Ime Okon, Nkosinathi Sibisi, Khuliso Mudau, Jayden Adams, Thalente Mbatha, Teboho Mokoena, Lyle Foster, Iqraam Rayners
Where to watch Czech Republic vs South Africa – TV channel and live streams
The Czech Republic vs South Africa kicks off at 17:00 BST (12:00 ET / 09:00 PT) on Thursday. In the UK, the match will be broadcast live on BBC One.
Streaming on a wide variety of devices is available via the BBC iPlayer app and the BBC Sport website.
World Cup 2026: Czech Republic vs South Africa – statistics
- The Czech Republic is in the World Cup for the 10th time, including eight appearances as Czechoslovakia in the last century, where they lost the finals in 1934 and 1962.
- This is their second appearance this century, after they were knocked out in the group stage in 2006.
- They have been knocked out in five of their seven World Cup group stages, and have only progressed in 1962 and 1990.
- Eleven of the Czech Republic’s 22 goals in qualifying came from set-pieces, including a European record seven from corners.
- Koubek started as Czech Republic coach in December 2025, after they finished second in their qualifying group behind Croatia. Both play-off games against Ireland and Denmark ended 2-2 after 120 minutes, and they both won on penalties.
- South Africa are in their fourth World Cup finals and their first away from home since 2002.
- They have never progressed from the group stage of the tournament, and none of their ten previous World Cup matches have ended goalless. Their two victories came against Slovenia in 2002 and France in 2010.
- Oswin Apollis was directly involved in twice as many goals as any other South African player in qualifying, with two goals and four assists.
- This is Broos’ first experience as a head coach in a World Cup. The Belgian is the fourth person to lead Bafana Bafana in the tournament, after Frenchman Philippe Troussier (1998), South African Jomo Sono (2002) and Brazilian Carlos Alberto Parreira (2010).
- As head coach, Broos won the Africa Cup of Nations with Cameroon in 2017 and finished third with South Africa in 2023, before being knocked out in the last eight of the 2025 edition.
World Cup 2026: Czech Republic vs South Africa – betting
Betting: Czech Republic 2-1 South Africa
Despite only threatening from set-pieces against South Korea, the Czech Republic can defend their position as significant favourites here if South Africa perform just below par as they did against Mexico. Broos’ words may appeal to those betting on the rare draw.
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