Czechia 0-3 Mexico: World Cup 2026 – live reaction

Jonathan Wilson’s report from Estadio Ciudad de Mexico is here:

There are ways of leaving a tournament. You can go out with a sheen of glory, having gone to-to-toe with a great opponent. You can be unlucky and go home raging at referees and the fates. You can self-immolate in a blaze of red cards or own goals or spectacular errors. Or you can slink away without leaving a trace – and that was the path followed by Czechia.

That’s all for me, folks! Thanks for following along.

Jonathan Wilson’s report from Estadio Ciudad de Mexico is here:

There are ways of leaving a tournament. You can go out with a sheen of glory, having gone to-to-toe with a great opponent. You can be unlucky and go home raging at referees and the fates. You can self-immolate in a blaze of red cards or own goals or spectacular errors. Or you can slink away without leaving a trace – and that was the path followed by Czechia.

Mexico, Spain, and Argentina are the only teams at the World Cup that have yet to concede a goal.

What side in this World Cup is feeling more momentum than Mexico right now? It could be the United States, with a similar result against Turkey tomorrow.

And in the other game, South Africa hang on to earn a 1-0 win over South Korea. That will be enough to see them through to the knockout round – an incredible feat after their disastrous opening game.

The final Group A table:

1. Mexico (9 pts, +6 GD)

2. South Africa (4 pts, -1 GD)

3. South Korea (3 pts, -1 GD)

4. Czech Republic (1 pt, -4 GD)

The Mexican team celebrates in front of fans, with every player going to Guillermo Ochoa. congratulating the 40-year-old on his 154th international appearance - probably his last in the Mexico shirt before his retirement.

The co-hosts started the night on top of Group A,. they finish it in the same position … but with a good heap of momentum and positive vibes.

That is Fidalgo’s first international goal

Mexico has put the icing on the cake! Álvaro Fidalgo finishes off a broken play. Guillermo Ochoa, whose long ball set up the play, celebrates as if he got the assist. Amazing moment.

90+2 min: It’s a training exercise on the field, and a fiesta off of it. Players are just trying audacious things, and mostly failing.

We have six minutes of added time.

89 min: The crowd starting “ole”ing Mexican possession in the fourth minute,. we’re right back there again at the end of this game. A comprehensive win for the co-hosts, with lots of reasons to celebrate.

Souček needs to be helped off the field. he lies down as soon as he makes it over the line. He’s coming out of the game for Alexandr Sojka.

85 min: Worrying news for Czechia (and perhaps West Ham) – Tomáš Souček goes down with a non-contact injury while closing down Ochoa. The trainers are on the field.

83 min: The Czechs keep making an effort to surge forward, trying to manufacture even the scrap of a chance,. it just never, ever goes anywhere.

82 min: Seemingly all 80,000 at the Azteca are singing Guillermo Ocha’s name. The end of this game is just a sideshow.

finger to earpiece I’m being told that Guillermo Ochoa has already announced his retirement after this tournament. Still wouldn’t rule him out for 2030!

79 min: Goalkeepers have longevity! I wouldn’t rule out Ochoa for World Cup No 7, personally.

77 min: Yep, Guillermo Ocha has the warmups off and he’s coming on in place of Rangel. The crowd at Estadio Azteca is going wild for the legend. What an awesome moment.

74 min: Oh boy, Guillermo Ochoa is warming up. This would be the perfect situation to bring on the goalkeeper for an appearance in his SIXTH World Cup.

A couple subs that I missed!

Obed Vargas, Santiago Giménez, and Álvaro Fidalgo are on for Guillermo Martínez, Luis Romo, and Gilberto Mora.

Tomáš Holeš, Denis Višinský, and Adam Hložek exit in favor of Patrik Schick, Lukáš Provod, and Tomáš Souček.

Pavel Nedvěd, Cezchia legend. now sporting director for the program, is shown on the broadcast and he looks profoundly unhappy. They made Nedvěd unhappy and that makes me sad.

Hydration break! Make sure to grab your beverage of choice. Let’s see if Czechia can make this interesting.

67 min: Meanwhile, in this game, Czechia is pushing to get a goal. make things somewhat interesting but every service in the box is either off target or really off target.

In other Group A news: South Africa have taken the lead against South Korea in the other game! It’s 1-0.

That result, if it holds, would put South Africa into the Round of 32,. keep South Korea waiting to see if they are one of the top eight third-placed sides.

Czechia were once again beaten down their left-hand side. Jorge Sánchez made a marauding run forward, was kept onside by a poorly positioned Czech defense,. Julián Quiñones cleaned up the mess after the initial attempt was blocked.

Mexico have doubled their lead! It wasn’t the prettiest goal but it’ll do for the home side.

58 min: Czechia have woken up a bit now,. rightfully so: This result would see them eliminated from the World Cup.

That’s Mateo Chávez’s first international goal, and what a time to get it. The AZ Alkmaar fullback did well to race through the Czech defense. evade some attempted tackles, and the finishing touch was cool and well-applied.

We have a breakthrough! The home side takes the lead on a breakaway finish!

54 min: Czechia earns a corner after a well-defended set piece. Rangel flaps at it but nobody can take advantage.

53 min: Mexico has been probing the Czechia backline with long balls from the back. most of which have been cut out easily. But they’ve had the most joy when the ball has recycled and they try playing through the midfield.

52 min: A potential chance! Luis Romo gets to a ball in the box. fires a lofted service across the face of goal, but nobody is there to greet it.

46 min: Tomáš Holeš goes down after a clash of heads in the box, he exits. it looks like he’ll play on.

The sides get under way with no changes for either side.

Reader Craig writes in…

I for one am relieved that Mexico have opted for white jerseys. I was just watching a replay of an old Chicago Fire v Seattle Sounders match where Chicago was in their traditional red. Seattle in their traditional green, and in wide angle shots it was like watching a team of 22 players in identical jerseys. I far prefer being able to identify the different teams as I’m watching. Gracias, EL TRI!

At least one person is happy watching this!

OK let’s try this: Rank your favorite ducks.

And we don’t even have Merlín the duck in the building?!

Fifa’s gone too far this time.

So, uh, anybody have any strong thoughts on that first half? Not a lot of big moments, both sides weirdly cagey. I hope someone reminds Czechia in the locker room that they need to win.

According to FotMob, the combined xG in this game is 0.46. Seems high!

The score is still 0-0, and only the most minor of scoring chances have presented themselves for either side.

45 min+: Julián Quiñones has had it with this “moving the ball around” BS. He blasts an effort at goal, but it goes over the bar.

45 min: We have a stoppage here for a player down off the ball. Hard to see exactly what caused it, some sort of collision, but he’s back up and they’re playing on.

44 min: A dangerous Czech free kick … and it’s entirely unthreatening.

42 min: Julián Quiñones gets possession in a dangerous area but he’s left on the ground with a challenge. No call, then Czechia earns a foul at midfield. The crowd is riled up, moreso than they have been up to this point.