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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Jonathan Wilson

World Cup draw: group-by-group analysis for the 2026 tournament

World Cup Group A. Kylian Mbappé Conmebol Erling Haaland Johan Cruyff Lionel Messi UEFA Champions League United States
Erling Haaland, Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Cristiano Ronaldo
Erling Haaland, Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé and Cristiano Ronaldo are likely to light up the group stage of the 2026 World Cup. Composite: Getty Images

Group A

The opening game in the Azteca will be a repeat of the opener in 2010 when South Africa drew 1-1 with Mexico in Soccer City, Soweto. Mexico have won one knockout game at the World Cup, beating Bulgaria last time they hosted, in 1986. Their manager, Javier Aguirre, was a forward in that side and will be targeting their third quarter-final as hosts. South Africa, coached by the veteran Belgian Hugo Broos, qualified for their first World Cup since hosting, finishing above Nigeria and Benin, despite having a game against Lesotho they appeared to have won awarded against them for fielding a suspended player.

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