Czechia vs South Africa LIVE
A late penalty from Teboho Mokoena secured South Africa a 1-1 draw with the Czech Republic in Atalanta, which keeps alive both sides’ hopes of qualification from Group A. After Patrik Schick headed an early chance wide at the far post, the Czechs – showing five changes from the 2-1 defeat to South Korea, including West Ham midfielder Tomas Soucek dropped to the bench – took the lead in the sixth minute.
Adam Hlozek raced on to a throw-in down the right and cut the ball back to the edge of box where Alexandr Sojka fed Michal Sadilek to clip his finish past South Africa keeper Ronwen Williams for the quickest goal of the tournament so far.
South Africa, who had Yaya Sithole and Themba Zwane sent off in their opening 2-0 loss to co-hosts Mexico at the Azteca Stadium, looked for a response as Oswin Appollis’ 25-yard effort was deflected behind ahead of the first hydration break, which was met by a chorus of boos from fans at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, where the roof was closed. South Africa were awarded a penalty with nine minutes left for handball by Czech substitute Pavel Sulc, having been struck at point-blank range from a shot by Maseko. Mokoena made no mistake from the spot, slotting the ball to the left and sending Matej Kovar the wrong way.
Czechia vs South Africa latest news
- GOAL! Mokoena equalises from spot
- GOAL! Sadilek fires home early opener
That's all, folks!
19:10 , Ronan Sullivan
That’s all from us.
Czechia face Mexico; South Africa play South Korea.
Both sides must win to have hope of reaching the knockouts.
FT Czechia 1-1 South Africa
19:07 , Ronan Sullivan
That Sulc handball is causing some debate: his arm was close to his body, but referee Tori Penso did not hesitate in rewarding the spot kick.
South Africa probably did not deserve a point, but some late pressure got its reward.
FT Czechia 1-1 South Africa
19:01 , Ronan Sullivan
South Africa offered little after Michal Sadilek’s opener and Czechia should really have extended their lead through Patrik Schick’s tame header.
But a late Teboho Mokoena penalty after Pavel Sulc’s handball meant the points were shared.
Both sides need to win their final group game to have a chance of progressing to the knockouts.
FT Czechia 1-1 South Africa
19:00 , Ronan Sullivan
The Group A opponents share quite a dour draw, with goals at either end of the match.
FT Czechia 1-1 South Africa
18:59 , Ronan Sullivan
FULL-TIME: Czechia 1-1 South Africa.
Czechia 1-1 South Africa
18:59 , Ronan Sullivan
90+7mins: Lots of late pressure from Bafana Bafana.
Czechia 1-1 South Africa
18:58 , Ronan Sullivan
90+6mins: Chance! South Africa should score! Modiba’s shot blocked!
Czechia 1-1 South Africa
18:58 , Ronan Sullivan
90+6mins: Chance! Makgopa chests it down, turns, but his shot is straight at the ‘keeper.
Czechia 1-1 South Africa
18:57 , Ronan Sullivan
90+5mins: Appollis finds Sebelebele down the right, but Czechia hold firm.
Czechia 1-1 South Africa
18:56 , Ronan Sullivan
90+5mins: Some Czechia fans looking very frustrated in the crowd.
Czechia 1-1 South Africa
18:56 , Ronan Sullivan
90+4mins: Sulc gets free down the right hand side, but Schick can’t connect with his cross.
Provod then drags his shot wide!
Czechia 1-1 South Africa
18:54 , Ronan Sullivan
90+2mins: Czechia nearly in there! But Mbokazi intercepts.
Czechia 1-1 South Africa
18:53 , Ronan Sullivan
90+1mins: It comes to nothing, as Koubek points at his head repeatedly.
Not sure how that will help.
Czechia 1-1 South Africa
18:52 , Ronan Sullivan
There will be SEVEN minutes of added time.
Czechia about to swing in a free kick.
Czechia 1-1 South Africa
18:52 , Ronan Sullivan
90mins: Into the final minute here, as a Czech corner is cleared.
Czechia 1-1 South Africa
18:51 , Ronan Sullivan
88mins: Chance for South Africa, but Kovar saves.
Czechia 1-1 South Africa
18:47 , Ronan Sullivan
84mins: Mokoena struck in the bottom right corner, sending Kovar the wrong way.
Broos then takes off Maseko, replaced by Sebelebele.
Czechia 1-1 South Africa
18:45 , Ronan Sullivan
83mins: GOAL! Mokoena scores to level!
Czechia 1-0 South Africa
18:44 , Ronan Sullivan
83mins: Teboho Mokoena is stepping up...
Czechia 1-0 South Africa
18:44 , Ronan Sullivan
82mins: Will VAR intervene?
Czechia 1-0 South Africa
18:43 , Ronan Sullivan
82mins: Maseko’s shot hits Sulc’s arm and the referee points to the spot.
Czechia 1-0 South Africa
18:43 , Ronan Sullivan
81mins: PENALTY South Africa!
Czechia 1-0 South Africa
18:41 , Ronan Sullivan
80mins: Ten minutes remaining in Atlanta here.
Czechia 1-0 South Africa
18:40 , Ronan Sullivan
78mins: Soucek escapes a yellow after pulling back Mokoena.
Czechia 1-0 South Africa
18:40 , Ronan Sullivan
78mins: Cerv coming off for David Zima. Cerv had cramp.
Czechia 1-0 South Africa
18:38 , Ronan Sullivan
76mins: Nope. They play it square and a shot is blocked. Now the ball has burst.
South Africa’s World Cup bubble is about to burst if they don’t go for this one.
Czechia 1-0 South Africa
18:38 , Ronan Sullivan
76mins: Krejci booked. South Africa have a free kick to the right of the area. Good delivery needed.
Czechia 1-0 South Africa
18:36 , Ronan Sullivan
74mins: Substitute Evidence Makgopa’s downward header is tame.
No evidence of South Africa scoring here.
Czechia 1-0 South Africa
18:35 , Ronan Sullivan
73mins: Appollis appears on the left-wing, but his low cross is cleared.
Czechia 1-0 South Africa
18:34 , Ronan Sullivan
72mins: Play resumes after that karaoke session.
Czechia 1-0 South Africa
18:33 , Ronan Sullivan
71mins: Country Roads, Take Me Home by John Denver plays in the arena.
The cameras show fans singing along.
Not booing now, are they? So, so fickle.
Czechia 1-0 South Africa
18:32 , Ronan Sullivan
70mins: It was Darida who had a shot blocked after good work by Sulc and Zeleny on 59mins.
Czechia 1-0 South Africa
18:31 , Ronan Sullivan
69mins: Hydration break.
The crowd actually booing this enforced pause. Temperatures in the Mercedes-Benz Stadium at around 22 degrees Celsius here, thanks to their retractable roof and air-conditioning.
Czechia 1-0 South Africa
18:30 , Ronan Sullivan
68mins: Krejci has a free header from a corner, but it’s straight at the ‘keeper.
Czechia are being a bit wasteful here.
Czechia 1-0 South Africa
18:29 , Ronan Sullivan
66mins: Soucek and Provod on for Czechia, replacing goalscorer Sadilek and Hlozek.
South Africa make one change: Rayners is off, replaced by Makgopa.
Czechia 1-0 South Africa
18:27 , Ronan Sullivan
65mins: Hlozek apologises, but it looked as though he deliberately stood on the Bafana Bafana right-back there.
Czechia 1-0 South Africa
18:26 , Ronan Sullivan
64mins: Does Hlozek stamp on Mudau there?
Czechia 1-0 South Africa
18:24 , Ronan Sullivan
62mins: Appollis slides in Mudau, but he’s offside.
Mudau is the outlet for South Africa.
Czechia 1-0 South Africa
18:22 , Ronan Sullivan
60mins: Left back Audrey Modiba sents a low strike comfortably wide.
Czechia 1-0 South Africa
18:21 , Ronan Sullivan
59mins: Chance for Czechia as Zeleny and Sulc combine, but Sadilek’s shot is blocked.
Czechia 1-0 South Africa
18:18 , Ronan Sullivan
56mins: Broos is looking frustrated on the touchline.
Czechia 1-0 South Africa
18:17 , Ronan Sullivan
55mins: Substitutions for Czechia, as Sojka and Darida in midfield are replaced by Zeleny and Sulc.
Czechia 1-0 South Africa
18:16 , Ronan Sullivan
54mins: It’s a lot better from South Africa, as Appollis finds Mudau out wide, who lays it inside to Maseko, but his shot is wild and wide.
Czechia 1-0 South Africa
18:14 , Ronan Sullivan
53mins: Krejci heads over from a corner.
Czechia 1-0 South Africa
18:13 , Ronan Sullivan
52mins: Mokoena clears well to deny Darida a tap-in at the back post.
Czechia 1-0 South Africa
18:13 , Ronan Sullivan
51mins: Mudau looking injured, but gets up and is fine to carry on.
Czechia 1-0 South Africa
18:12 , Ronan Sullivan
50mins: Mudau a danger man again, as he tangles with Sadilek in the penalty area. Sadilek deals with the threat.
Czechia 1-0 South Africa
18:11 , Ronan Sullivan
49mins: Mudau gets round the back of Czechia’s back-line again, but it comes to nothing.
Czechia 1-0 South Africa
18:10 , Ronan Sullivan
48mins: Then Schick has a free header from the corner, but directs it straight at Williams.
He should’ve scored too.
Czechia 1-0 South Africa
18:09 , Ronan Sullivan
47mins: Darrida’s shot is blocked, before Cerv’s long-range strike is tipped over comfortably.
Darrida should’ve scored.
Czechia 1-0 South Africa
18:07 , Ronan Sullivan
Second half kicks off.
Czechia 1-0 South Africa
18:07 , Ronan Sullivan
Relebohile Mofokeng is replacing Jayden Adams.
Mofokeng, a striker, replacing midfielder Adams. Broos wants a goal, soon.
Czechia 1-0 South Africa
17:59 , Ronan Sullivan
How can South Africa manager Hugo Broos change things at half-time?
Give them an inspirational speech like Thomas Tuchel did last night?
Or make some substitutions? Like taking off yellow-carded Mokoena, lest Bafana Bafana have a third player sent off this tournament?
Czechia 1-0 South Africa
17:52 , Ronan Sullivan
Half-time: Czechia 1-0 South Africa.
Czechia lead thanks to that early Sadilek goal.
South Africa have had possession, but with no shots on target.
They need to pick the pace up and find some urgency in the second half.
Czechia 1-0 South Africa
17:50 , Ronan Sullivan
45+4mins: Almost famous last words as South Africa go very close.
Kovar flaps at a cross and Maseko’s attempt is blocked.
Czechia 1-0 South Africa
17:48 , Ronan Sullivan
45+2mins: The game seems to be petering out here. Both sides waiting for half-time.
Czechia 1-0 South Africa
17:46 , Ronan Sullivan
45mins: A minimum of four minutes added on.
Czechia 1-0 South Africa
17:45 , Ronan Sullivan
45mins: After some slow possession, the ball falls to Mokoena, whose shot goes well over.
Czechia 1-0 South Africa
17:44 , Ronan Sullivan
42mins: Winger Oswin Appollis, who didn’t start their opener, looks tricky. A bright spark for South Africa.
Czechia 1-0 South Africa
17:42 , Ronan Sullivan
41mins: Czech no9 Hlozek blasts the resulting free kick over the bar, as former Arsenal and Manchester United defender Mikael Silvestre watches on.
Czechia 1-0 South Africa
17:41 , Ronan Sullivan
40mins: Yellow card for Mgatha for tripping Schick.
Czechia 1-0 South Africa
17:40 , Ronan Sullivan
39mins: Bit of a mess from Bafana Bafana as they play around the back, before blasting a pass out of play under Czech pressure.
Czechia 1-0 South Africa
17:39 , Ronan Sullivan
38mins: That was the right-back Khuliso Mudau breaking forward there. A good outlet for South Africa in attack.
Czechia 1-0 South Africa
17:38 , Ronan Sullivan
37mins: Maseko finds Rayners, who lays it off to Mudau on the wing, but his touch is so heavy and Kovar smothers.
Czechia 1-0 South Africa
17:35 , Ronan Sullivan
35mins: Hlozek’s ball for Holes is overhit. The striker should have done better there.
Czechia 1-0 South Africa
17:34 , Ronan Sullivan
33mins: Despite that early goal, this game has yet to really burst into life.
Mokoena received a yellow for a late challenge on Lukas Cerv - the South African will miss their last group game against South Korea, after his booking versus Mexico.
Czechia 1-0 South Africa
17:30 , Ronan Sullivan
30mins: South Africa have 57% possession, but not much to show for it so far.
Czechia 1-0 South Africa
17:30 , Ronan Sullivan
29mins: Adam Hlozek catches Teboho Mokoena, who writhes on the floor in pain.
Mokoena soon gets up, and the game resumes.
Czechia 1-0 South Africa
17:28 , Ronan Sullivan
27mins: South Africa immediately get into the Czech penalty area, but a loose touch means Czechia can clear.
Czechia 1-0 South Africa
17:27 , Ronan Sullivan
27 mins: The game resumes.
Czechia 1-0 South Africa
17:27 , Ronan Sullivan
26mins: Miroslav Koubek will feel vindicated by the changes he made to his Czechia side.
Half the outfield players - including veteran Tomas Soucek - were dropped for this game.
Czechia 1-0 South Africa
17:24 , Ronan Sullivan
23mins: First hydration break.
Czechia 1-0 South Africa
17:20 , Ronan Sullivan
20mins: Krejci fouls Maseko and is lucky to escape without a yellow card.
Czechia 1-0 South Africa
17:19 , Ronan Sullivan
18 mins: Becoming a bit more end-to-end, as Schick fails to meet a header and Appollis nearly meets ‘keeper Williams long ball.
Czechia 1-0 South Africa
17:17 , Ronan Sullivan
16mins: Chance for South Africa, as a cross bounces off Maseko, trickling out for a Czech goal kick.
Czechia 1-0 South Africa
17:16 , Ronan Sullivan
15mins: South Africa have settled down now, as they put some passes together in their own half.
Czechia 1-0 South Africa
17:13 , Ronan Sullivan
12mins: Appollis takes a strike from way out and the deflected shot hits the side netting. Corner South Africa. Better.
Czechia 1-0 South Africa
17:10 , Ronan Sullivan
9mins: Czechia looking dangerous, as Coufal breaks behind the South Africa line, but he’s offside.
Czechia 1-0 South Africa
17:09 , Ronan Sullivan
8mins: It was Alexandr Sojka who played Sadalek in with a deft pass.
Czechia 1-0 South Africa
17:08 , Ronan Sullivan
Sadilek was played in, and he finished nicely past Williams in the South Africa goal.
Terrible start for Bafana Bafana; great one for the Czechs.
GOAL! Czechia 1-0 South Africa
17:06 , Ronan Sullivan
6mins: Michal Sadilek opens the scoring!
Czechia 0-0 South Africa
17:05 , Ronan Sullivan
4mins: Czechia exerting the early pressure, as Vladimir Darida is fouled.
Michal Sadilek’s delivery leads to a corner, after Coufal’s cross is deflected out.
The corner leads to nothing. Goal kick South Africa.
Czechia 0-0 South Africa
17:02 , Ronan Sullivan
1min: And Patrik Schick should have opened the scoring in a minute! His tame header goes wide.
KICKOFF!
17:01 , Ronan Sullivan
Here we go. South Africa in yellow and Czechia in red. It’s South Africa who kick off this second gameweek of the 2026 World Cup.
16:50 , Ronan Sullivan
Patrik Schick is Czechia’s danger man today.
The Bayer Leverkusen forward, 30, has 26 goals in 54 appearances for his country.
He will hope to break his World Cup duck in this match.
Ah, vuvuzelas, my old nemesis, we meet again...
16:45 , Ronan Sullivan
The 2010 World Cup was soundtracked by these instruments.
Their constant drone annoyed many, but, in the fullness of time, makes South Africa’s edition much more memorable - in my opinion.
Fans around the ground
16:38 , Ronan Sullivan
Warm-ups
16:29 , Ronan Sullivan
Both sets of players are training ahead of kick-off in about half an hour.
Three changes for Bafana Bafana
16:25 , Ronan Sullivan
After Yaya Sithole and substitute Themba Zwane’s red cards against Mexico, Hugo Broos had to make at least one change from his last starting line-up.
With Sithole suspended, Nkosinathi Sibisi and Lyle Foster also drop out; Oswin Appollis and Thalente Mbatha come in, alongside Thapelo Maseko.
Soucek dropped
16:12 , Ronan Sullivan
Big team news for Czechia there, as boss Miroslav Koubek makes five changes from their South Korea loss in Guadalajara.
Tomas Soucek, Stepan Chaloupek, Jaroslav Zeleny, Lukas Provod and Pavel Sulc all drop out.
They are replaced by Tomas Holes, Michal Sadilek, Vladimir Darida, Lukas Cerv and Adam Hlozek.
That South Korea loss must have really disappointed Koubek.
BREAKING: Line-ups confirmed
16:01 , Ronan Sullivan
Line-ups for both sides have just been announced.
Czechia:
Matej Kovar, Tomas Holes, Robin Hranac, Ladislav Krejci, Vladimír Coufal, Michal Sadílek, Lukas Cerv, Alexandr Sojka, Adam Hlozek, Vladimír Darida, Patrik Schick
South Africa:
Ronwen Williams, Khuliso Mudau, Ime Okon, Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Aubrey Modiba, Thalente Mbatha, Teboho Mokoena, Oswin Appollis, Jayden Adams, Thapelo Maseko, Iqraam Rayners
Where is Czechia vs South Africa being played?
15:36 , Ronan Sullivan
The game is at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
It opened in 2017 and has a maximum capacity of around 73,000.
The stadium is home to American football team the Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United FC in the MLS.
It is hosting eight games at the World Cup, including one in each knockout round (bar the final).
South Africa at the World Cup
15:16 , Ronan Sullivan
Everybody remembers South Africa’s last appearance at the World Cup:
“It’s Tshabalala! Goal, Bafana Bafana! Goal South Africa! Goal for all of Africa!”
As hosts, they opened the 2010 World Cup with a 1-1 draw with Mexico.
And despite a stunning win over France, a loss to Uruguay meant South Africa exited at the group stage.
They were also present at the 1998 and 2002 editions, exiting at the group stage in both.
Czechia at the World Cup
15:09 , Ronan Sullivan
This is Czechia’s first appearance at the World Cup in 20 years, and second ever.
In 2006, they went out in the group stage, after losses to Ghana and Italy.
They did beat USA 3-0 in their first game, thanks to a wonderful goal from then Arsenal man Tomas Rosicky.
Who's in South Africa's squad?
15:03 , Ronan Sullivan
South Africa’s 26-man squad is more of an unknown quantity: most of their players compete in their domestic league.
Burnley’s Lyle Foster is probably their most recognisable player.
Who's in Czechia's squad?
15:00 , Ronan Sullivan
The most notable names for Czechia are West Ham’s Tomas Soucek and former Hammer Vladimir Coufal.
Another well-known player is striker Patrik Schick, who plies his trade for Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga.
Goalkeepers: Lukas Hornicek, Matej Kovar, Jindrich Stanek
Defenders: Vladimir Coufal, David Doudera, Tomas Holes, Robin Hranac, Stepan Chaloupek, David Jurasek, Ladislav Krejci, Jaroslav Zeleny, David Zima
Midfielders: Lukas Cerv, Vladimir Darida, Lukas Provod, Michal Sadilek, Hugo Sochurek, Alexandr Sojka, Tomas Soucek, Pavel Sulc, Denis Visinsky
Forwards: Adam Hlozek, Tomas Chory, Mojmir Chytil, Jan Kuchta, Patrik Schick
A huge game in Group A
14:56 , Ronan Sullivan
Last time around, both these sides lost to fellow Group A opponents Mexico and South Korea.
Mexico opened the tournament against nine-men South Africa with a convincing 2-0 win at the Azteca, Mexico City.
Czechia fell to a 2-1 defeat against South Korea.
Both these teams really need a win today if they hope to qualify.
How to watch in the UK
14:31 , Alex Young
TV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live on BBC One, with coverage starting at 4.30pm BST ahead of a 5pm kick-off.
Live stream: UK viewers can also catch the contest live online via BBC iPlayer.
Free highlights: World Cup highlights are available on FIFA’s official YouTube channel, along with BBC iPlayer.
Czechia vs South Africa LIVE
14:29 , Alex Young
Czechia and South Africa go in pursuit of their first win at the 2026 World Cup tonight.
Ladislav Krejci opened the scoring on the hour mark as Czechia faced South Korea in their tournament opener, but they came away empty-handed after a late show from substitute Hwang In-Beom flipped the result on its head.
South Africa, meanwhile, were humiliated with the whole world watching as they were beaten by Mexico in the tournament curtain-raiser at the Estadio Azteca.
This match will be a must-win for both sides, as to head into the third group-stage matchday pointless would make progression an effective impossibility.
