Czechia face co-hosts Mexico on Wednesday, June 24 (9 p.m. ET / 2 a.m. BST Thursday, June 25) at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, in the final Group A fixture of the Football World Cup in 2026 that decides whether Czechia can reach the round of 32.
In this blog you will find everything you need to know about how to watch Czechia vs Mexico Football World Cup in 2026, including kick-off time, broadcasters, team news, squad lists, and a full tactical preview.
Key Details
- Date: Wednesday, June 24, 2026 (Thursday, June 25 in UK and Australia)
- Kick-off Time: 9:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. PT / 2:00 a.m. BST / 6:30 a.m. IST / 11:00 a.m. AEST
- Venue: Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico
- Where to Watch: Fox Sports (USA) | BBC One / ITVX (UK) | SBS (Australia) | Zee5 (India) | TSN / CTV (Canada)
Where to Watch Czechia vs. Mexico Football World Cup Match?
In the USA, Fox Sports and FS1 carry the match in English, with Telemundo providing Spanish-language coverage. In the UK, both BBC and ITV share World Cup broadcasting rights, with BBC One and ITVX streaming every match free of charge to British viewers.
Australia’s SBS holds exclusive rights and broadcasts every World Cup match free, while Canadian viewers can access the fixture through TSN and CTV. In India, Zee5 carries full tournament coverage, and Televisa and TV Azteca broadcast matches free in Mexico.
How to Watch Czechia vs. Mexico with a VPN
If the Czechia vs Mexico match is unavailable in your region, a VPN unlocks free access to ITVX, the UK’s official free-to-air World Cup streamer for 2026.
ITVX is geoblocked to the United Kingdom, meaning viewers outside the UK cannot access it without a VPN. A VPN masks your location by giving you a UK IP address, making ITVX available anywhere in the world.
Follow these steps:
- Sign up for PureVPN and install the app on your device.
- Connect to a UK server to obtain a British IP address.
- Visit ITVX and sign in or create a free account.
- Search for the Czechia vs Mexico match and start streaming live.
Note: Always check the terms and conditions of your streaming service and local regulations before using a VPN.
Czechia vs Mexico Football World Cup in 2026 Team News
Czechia Team News
Miroslav Koubek, the 74-year-old head coach hired in December 2025, guided Czechia through two UEFA playoff penalty shootouts to return to the World Cup for the first time since 2006. A former goalkeeper who spent his playing career at Sparta Praha, Koubek brought three spells coaching Viktoria Plzen on his record, winning the Czech title in the 2014-15 season during his second spell in charge.
Captain Ladislav Krejci, a 27-year-old central defender who spent the 2025-26 season with Wolverhampton Wanderers in England, was appointed skipper in March 2026 and opened his World Cup account with a header goal against South Korea in their first group game. Czechia set up in a 4-2-3-1 shape, relying heavily on set-piece routines and physical aerial duels, with Vladimir Coufal delivering the throw-in that created Krejci’s goal against South Korea.
Patrik Schick remained the focal point of the Czech attack, having scored 25 goals in 52 international appearances, while Tomas Soucek provided aerial power and energy from central midfield. The side conceded late in both previous group games, shipping the equalizer against South Africa in the 83rd minute, which highlighted the defensive vulnerability Koubek needed to address against Mexico.
Mexico Team News
Javier Aguirre, the experienced manager serving his final tournament in charge of El Tri before handing over to Rafael Marquez, selected a 26-man squad blending seasoned internationals with exciting young talent. Rafael Marquez, the Mexico legend, was present as Aguirre’s assistant and his contract as the successor manager was already signed before the tournament began.
Mexico opened their campaign with a 2-0 win over South Africa at Estadio Azteca, with Julian Quinones scoring the first goal of the entire tournament in the 9th minute before Raul Jimenez headed home in the 67th minute. In their second fixture, a 1-0 defeat of South Korea in Guadalajara sealed first place in Group A, making El Tri the first qualified team to enter the newly introduced round of 32.
Captain Edson Alvarez led the team from midfield, with goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa completing a historic sixth World Cup appearance. Santiago Gimenez provided pace and clinical finishing up front alongside Jimenez, while 17-year-old Gilberto Mora delivered standout performances as one of the tournament’s brightest young talents. Aguirre was expected to rotate his squad against Czechia with qualification already secured, which opened the door for Koubek’s side.
Czechia World Cup 2026 Squad
- Goalkeepers: Matej Kovar, Jindrich Stanek, Lukas Hornicek
- Defenders: David Zima, Tomas Holes, Robin Hranac, Vladimir Coufal, Stepan Chaloupek, Ladislav Krejci, David Jurasek, Jaroslav Zeleny, David Doudera
- Midfielders: Vladimir Darida, Lukas Cerv, Lukas Provod, Tomas Soucek, Michal Sadilek, Alexandr Sojka, Adam Hlozek, Pavel Sulc
- Forwards: Patrik Schick, Jan Kuchta, Vaclav Chytil, Hugo Sochurek
Mexico World Cup 2026 Squad
- Goalkeepers: Raul Rangel, Carlos Acevedo, Guillermo Ochoa
- Defenders: Jorge Sanchez, Cesar Montes, Edson Alvarez, Johan Vasquez, Israel Reyes, Mateo Chavez, Jesus Gallardo
- Midfielders: Erik Lira, Luis Romo, Alvaro Fidalgo, Orbelin Pineda, Obed Vargas, Gilberto Mora, Luis Chavez, Brian Gutierrez, Roberto Alvarado
- Forwards: Raul Jimenez, Santiago Gimenez, Julian Quinones, Julian Araujo
Czechia vs Mexico Match Preview
Czechia and Mexico met at Estadio Azteca on June 24, 2026, in a Group A finale with very different stakes. Mexico were already through and top of the group regardless of the result, while Czechia knew only a win could realistically keep their World Cup alive, needing three points combined with South Africa failing to beat South Korea simultaneously.
Czechia arrived on the back of two narrow margins, losing 2-1 to South Korea when they conceded twice in 14 second-half minutes after leading, and squandering a lead against South Africa when Teboho Mokoena converted a late penalty in the 83rd minute. Their set-piece efficiency remained their main weapon, with Krejci and Soucek offering aerial threats from dead-ball situations, but their lack of creative alternatives in open play had been exposed twice.
Mexico were expected to rotate significantly at the Azteca, with Aguirre likely to rest key players like Jimenez, Ochoa, and Alvarez ahead of the round of 32. That rotation created the most genuine opportunity Czechia would have across the group stage, and Koubek needed his squad to apply pressure from the first whistle rather than sit in and wait for set pieces.
Tactical Outlook: Czechia were expected to set up compactly in their 4-2-3-1 block and look for direct balls into Schick, supplemented by Coufal’s physicality on the right flank. The key matchup was Schick against a rotated Mexican defensive line, with substitute defenders potentially giving the Czech striker more room than Kim Min-jae had in the opener. For Mexico, even a weakened lineup carried individual class across the attack, with Quinones, Mora, and Gimenez all capable of breaking Czechia’s compact shape on the counter.
Football World Cup in 2026 Match Schedule
| Date | Day | Match |
|---|---|---|
| June 24 | Wednesday | Czechia vs Mexico (Group A) |
| June 24 | Wednesday | South Africa vs South Korea (Group A) |
| June 24 | Wednesday | Switzerland vs Canada (Group B) |
| June 24 | Wednesday | Scotland vs Brazil (Group C) |
| June 25 | Thursday | Japan vs Sweden (Group F) |
| June 25 | Thursday | Turkey vs United States (Group D) |
| June 25 | Thursday | Germany vs Ivory Coast (Group E) |
| June 26 | Friday | Egypt vs Iran (Group H) |
| June 26 | Friday | Uruguay vs Spain (Group J) |
| June 27 | Saturday | Colombia vs Portugal (Group L) |
| June 28 | Sunday | Round of 32 begins |
2026 Football World Cup Preview
This year’s 2026 Football World Cup is shaping up to be the most ambitious and expansive edition of football’s grandest stage. The 23rd edition of the tournament will be held from June 11 to July 19, jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
For the first time ever, three nations are co-hosting the World Cup; a milestone that reflects both the scale of the event and the growing global footprint of the beautiful game.
2026 Football World Cup Format Explained: 48 Nations, 104 Matches
An expanded World Cup will feature 48 teams, 16 more than in Qatar 2022, and take place across three host nations for the first time. This expansion fundamentally changes the tournament’s structure.
The competition now consists of 12 groups of four teams, with each team playing three matches in their respective groups. The top two teams from each group and the eight best third-placed teams across the tournament will advance to the knockout Round of 32.
With 32 teams advancing, the knockout stage now includes a Round of 32, a Round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the final, meaning there will be 104 matches in total, 40 more than in Qatar. As a result, this World Cup will last 39 days instead of the roughly 32 days of previous tournaments.
16 Host Cities Across 3 Nations in 2026 Football World Cup
There will be 16 host cities in total, with 11 in the United States, three in Mexico, and two in Canada.
The cities where these games will take place include Toronto and Vancouver in Canada; Monterrey, Mexico City, and Guadalajara in Mexico; and San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Boston, Philadelphia, Miami, and New York/New Jersey in the United States.
The opening match is especially historic. The tournament kicks off at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, where Mexico will face South Africa, making it one of the most iconic venues in World Cup history, and the first stadium to host games at three different men’s World Cups.
The final is set for an equally iconic setting. The final is scheduled for July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, which has been rebranded as New York New Jersey Stadium for the event.
The Stars to Watch in 2026 Football World Cup
The 2026 Football World Cup features a massive mix of established superstars and next-generation talent. Here are the names central to the tournament conversation:
Established Legends
- Lionel Messi — Argentina’s captain, widely expected to play his final World Cup
- Cristiano Ronaldo — Portugal’s all-time icon, also likely bowing out on the biggest stage
Elite Europeans
- Kylian Mbappé — France’s generational superstar and title favourite
- Erling Haaland — Norway’s goal machine making his World Cup debut
- Jude Bellingham — England’s midfield engine and creative force
- Jamal Musiala — Germany’s technically gifted young star
- Lamine Yamal — Spain’s teenage sensation
- Harry Kane — England’s all-time top scorer hunting major honours
South American Powerhouses
- Vinícius Júnior — Brazil’s electric winger and Ballon d’Or contender
- Federico Valverde — Uruguay’s tireless and technically brilliant midfielder
North American Heroes
- Alphonso Davies — Canada’s captain and fan favourite on home soil
- Christian Pulisic — The face of US soccer playing in front of a home crowd
African Star
- Mohamed Salah — Egypt’s legendary forward bringing vast club experience to the global stage
For Messi and Ronaldo, this will likely be their final World Cups, giving the tournament an unmistakably emotional dimension as two of the greatest players in football history bow out on the grandest stage.
2026 Football World Cup Host Stadiums
| Stadium Name | Host City | Location | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto Stadium | Toronto | Toronto, Ontario, Canada | 45,000 |
| BC Place Vancouver | Vancouver | Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada | 54,000 |
| Estadio Azteca | Mexico City | Mexico City, Mexico | 83,000 |
| Estadio Guadalajara | Guadalajara | Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico | 48,000 |
| Estadio Monterrey | Monterrey | Guadalupe, Nuevo León, Mexico | 53,500 |
| Atlanta Stadium | Atlanta | Atlanta, Georgia, USA | 75,000 |
| Boston Stadium | Boston | Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA | 65,000 |
| Dallas Stadium | Dallas | Arlington, Texas, USA | 94,000 |
| NRG Stadium | Houston | Houston, Texas, USA | 72,000 |
| Kansas City Stadium | Kansas City | Kansas City, Missouri, USA | 73,000 |
| Los Angeles Stadium | Los Angeles | Inglewood, California, USA | 70,000 |
| Miami Stadium | Miami | Miami Gardens, Florida, USA | 65,000 |
| MetLife Stadium | New York/New Jersey | East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA | 82,500 |
| Philadelphia Stadium | Philadelphia | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA | 69,000 |
| San Francisco Bay Area Stadium (Levi’s Stadium) | San Francisco Bay Area | Santa Clara, California, USA | 71,000 |
| Seattle Stadium | Seattle | Seattle, Washington, USA | 69,000 |
Prize Money and Commercial Scale for 2026 Football World Cup
The prize money for this World Cup was confirmed at a official meeting in Doha. The prize fund is up 50 per cent on that of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and each team also receives $1.5m to cover preparation costs, meaning every team is guaranteed at least $10.5m.
The United States last hosted the men’s World Cup in 1994, and that tournament still holds the record as the most attended World Cup with 3.6 million fans. But that record will certainly be shattered in 2026 with fans entering turnstiles in three countries.
2026 Football World Cup official broadcasters
Here’s a list of the official broadcasters for the 2026 Football World Cup Qatar in different countries across the world.
| Country/Region | Broadcaster(s) |
|---|---|
| Afghanistan | ATN |
| Albania | TV Klan |
| Algeria | ENTV |
| Andorra | RTVE, M6, Mediapro/DAZN |
| Angola | Z Sports |
| Argentina | Telefe, TV Pública, TyC Sports |
| Armenia | Fast Sports |
| Aruba | Telearuba |
| Australia | SBS |
| Austria | ORF, ServusTV, Magenta Sport |
| Azerbaijan | İTV |
| Bangladesh | TBA |
| Belize | Nexgen |
| Belgium | VRT, RTBF |
| Bolivia | Red Uno, Unitel, Entel, Tigo Sports |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | Arena Sport |
| Brazil | Grupo Globo, CazéTV, SBT/N Sports |
| Brunei | TBA |
| Bulgaria | BNT |
| Cambodia | Hang Meas |
| Canada | Bell Media |
| Caribbean | Rush Sports |
| Chile | Chilevisión |
| China | CCTV, Migu, Xiaohongshu |
| Colombia | Caracol, RCN, Win Sports |
| Costa Rica | Teletica, Tigo Sports |
| Croatia | HRT |
| Curaçao | Nos Pais Television |
| Cyprus | Sigma TV |
| Czechia | ČT, TV Nova |
| Denmark | DR, TV2 |
| Dominican Republic | CDN 37, Pio Deportes |
| Ecuador | Teleamazonas |
| El Salvador | TCS, Tigo Sports |
| Estonia | TV3 Estonia, ERR |
| Ethiopia | Hagerie TV |
| Fiji | FBC |
| Finland | Yle, MTV3 |
| France (Metropolitan) | M6, beIN Sports |
| France (Ultramarine) | Antenne Réunion, La 1ère |
| Georgia | Setanta Sports, Rustavi 2 |
| Germany | ARD, ZDF, Magenta Sport |
| Ghana | ChannelOne TV |
| Greece | ERT |
| Guatemala | Albavisión, Tigo Sports |
| Haiti | TNH |
| Honduras | Televicentro, Tigo Sports |
| Hong Kong | PCCW |
| Hungary | MTVA |
| Iceland | RÚV |
| India | Unite8 Sports (Zee) |
| Indonesia | TVRI, FolaPlay, Telkomsel |
| Ireland | RTÉ |
| Israel | KAN, Charlton |
| Italy | RAI, DAZN |
| Ivory Coast | RTI, NCI |
| Jamaica | TVJ |
| Japan | NHK, Nippon TV, Fuji TV, DAZN |
| Kazakhstan | QAZTRK |
| Kenya | Azam TV |
| Kosovo | RTK, TV Vala, Arena Sport |
| Kyrgyzstan | KTRK, Beeline Ukmush TV |
| Laos | TBA |
| Latvia | TV3 Latvia |
| Liechtenstein | SRG SSR |
| Lithuania | TV3 Lithuania |
| Luxembourg | RTBF, M6, ARD, ZDF |
| Macau | TDM |
| Malawi | Azam TV |
| Malaysia | RTM, Unifi TV |
| Maldives | ICE Networks |
| Malta | Television Malta |
| Mauritius | MBC |
| Mexico | TelevisaUnivision, TV Azteca |
| MENA | beIN Sports |
| Mongolia | EduTV, National Television, Suld TV, MNB, Mobihome VOO |
| Montenegro | RTCG, Arena Sport |
| Morocco | SNRT |
| Mozambique | Miramar, Z Sports |
| Myanmar | TBA |
| Nepal | Himalaya Sports, Dgo |
| Netherlands | NOS |
| New Zealand | TVNZ |
| Nicaragua | Grupo Ratensa, Tigo Sports |
| North Macedonia | Arena Sport |
| Norway | NRK, TV2 |
| Pakistan | PTV Sports, Tapmad |
| Panama | RPC/COS, TVN Media, Tigo Sports |
| Paraguay | Trece, GEN TV |
| Peru | América Televisión |
| Philippines | Aleph Arena, TAP DMV, Cignal PPV |
| Poland | TVP |
| Portugal | Sport TV, RTP, SIC, TVI, LiveModeTV |
| Romania | Antena |
| Russia | Match TV |
| Rwanda | Azam TV |
| Saint Lucia | Winners Sports TV |
| San Marino | RAI, DAZN |
| Senegal | RTS |
| Serbia | PTC, Arena Sport |
| Singapore | Mediacorp |
| Slovakia | RTVS, TV JOJ |
| Slovenia | RTV SLO, Arena Sport |
| South Africa | SABC, SportyTV |
| South America | DSports, Disney+ |
| South Korea | JTBC, KBS, NAVER Sports, CHZZK |
| Spain | RTVE, Mediapro/DAZN |
| Sri Lanka | TBA |
| Sub-Saharan Africa | New World TV, SuperSport |
| Suriname | STVS, ATV |
| Sweden | SVT, TV4 |
| Switzerland | SRG SSR |
| Taiwan | ELTA, EBC, TTV |
| Tajikistan | Varzish TV |
| Tanzania | Azam TV |
| Thailand | TBA |
| Timor-Leste | RTTL, ETO |
| Turkey | TRT |
| Turkmenistan | Quest Sports Media |
| Uganda | Azam TV |
| Ukraine | MEGOGO |
| United Kingdom | STV (Central & Northern Scotland), BBC, ITV |
| United States | Fox Sports (English), Telemundo (Spanish) |
| Uruguay | Canal 5, Antel TV |
| Uzbekistan | Zo’r TV |
| Vanuatu | VBTC |
| Venezuela | Televen |
| Vietnam | VTV |
| Zambia | Azam TV |
| Zimbabwe | Azam TV |
2026 Football World Cup: A Tournament for the Ages
This year’s 2026 Football World Cup is more than a football tournament; it is a cultural event spanning an entire continent. The tournament is expected to be the largest World Cup ever by both attendance and scale, and is also expected to expand the reach of football across North America.
With legendary players potentially playing their last World Cups, host nations hungry for glory, and a brand-new format delivering more football than ever before, the summer of 2026 promises to be utterly unforgettable for fans around the world.
Frequently Asked Questions
Czechia vs Mexico kicks off at 9:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, Mexico. UK viewers can watch from 2:00 a.m. BST on Thursday, June 25.
Both teams are in Group A of the Football World Cup in 2026, alongside South Korea and South Africa. All Group A matches took place in Mexico, with matches at Estadio Azteca and Mexico City Stadium in Mexico City, Estadio Akron in Guadalajara, and Estadio BBVA in Monterrey.
Czechia lost their opening match 2-1 to South Korea after conceding twice in 14 second-half minutes despite taking the lead through captain Ladislav Krejci. They then drew 1-1 with South Africa after conceding a penalty in the 83rd minute, leaving them with one point and needing a win against Mexico to have any chance of advancing.
Mexico’s attack featured several dangerous options. Santiago Gimenez offered pace and clinical finishing, while Raul Jimenez brought physical presence and experience. Julian Quinones scored the first goal of the entire 2026 World Cup against South Africa, and 17-year-old Gilberto Mora impressed throughout the group stage.
As independent nations, Czechia and Mexico had only met once before, a 2-1 Czech victory in 2000. Their predecessor states, Czechoslovakia and Mexico, met at the 1962 World Cup in a match famous for producing one of the fastest goals in World Cup history after just 15 seconds, before Mexico came back to win 3-1.
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