"He's surely on the radar of several huge clubs around the world and it fills me with pride to see him being talked about on the global stage." That's Javier Aguirre talking about a 17-year-old. And not in a cautious, let's-not-put-pressure-on-the-kid way — he's leaning into it. That tells you everything about what Gilberto Mora means to Mexico heading into this tournament.
On paper, Group A is Mexico's to lose. Co-hosts, FIFA ranking of 15th, 18th World Cup appearance — El Tri should be through before the final matchday. But this Mexican side carries baggage. They went out in Qatar on goal difference after conceding in the 95th minute against Saudi Arabia. They lost a string of CONCACAF finals to the United States. The Gold Cup wins in 2023 and 2024 steadied nerves slightly, but home soil brings expectation that can crush as easily as it can inspire.
Mexico's spine — and whether Jimenez can finally deliver
Aguirre, now in his third spell in charge, has ditched the possession-heavy approach Tata Martino imported from Barcelona and returned to something more instinctive — structured chaos, essentially. Whether that's good enough to reach the quarter-finals for the first time since 1986, when they were last hosts, depends heavily on Raul Jimenez finally starting a World Cup game.
This will be the Fulham striker's fourth tournament. In 2014 he got six minutes. In 2018 he was a substitute twice. In Qatar he came off the bench in all three group games as Mexico went no further. He has over 120 caps and is approaching 50 international goals — at some point the veteran has to be given the shirt from kick-off. On home soil, that time appears to have arrived, and Mexico's odds at 80/1 to win the tournament rest significantly on whether he can deliver in front of his own supporters.
Then there's Mora. The Tijuana attacking midfielder is 17 and has already broken age records previously held — briefly — by Lamine Yamal and Pelé, including becoming the youngest player to win a senior international at 16 years and 265 days. Once he turns 18, he's expected to leave for Europe. Every match here is an audition in front of the world's biggest clubs. Aguirre isn't hiding that reality. He's using it.
The real contest: Czech Republic vs South Korea for second place
South Africa are the group's cannon fodder on paper, though head coach Hugo Broos — 74 years old and refreshingly honest — has already said he won't be blamed if they don't get out of the group. Their strength is cohesion: eight Mamelodi Sundowns players, eight Orlando Pirates players, built on club familiarity rather than individual quality. Lyle Foster of Burnley is the only name British audiences will recognise. Goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, who saved four penalties against Cape Verde at the 2023 AFCON, gives them a ceiling in a shootout that their outfield wouldn't otherwise justify. Getting through the group is a stretch. Getting hammered in any game is unlikely.
The genuinely interesting subplot is Czech Republic versus South Korea. Their opening-night meeting in Guadalajara on June 12 could effectively decide second place.
South Korea arrive in a rut they can't seem to escape. Since their semi-final finish as co-hosts in 2002, they've alternated between group exits and round-of-16 defeats. Coach Hong Myung-bo — the 2002 captain, now into a mediocre second stint — is over-reliant on Son Heung-min, who turns 34 during the latter stages, and Lee Kang-in in midfield. A 4-0 friendly loss to Ivory Coast and a 1-0 defeat to Austria in March, both with a three-man defence that supporters hated, doesn't inspire confidence. They're ranked 25th in the world and priced at 400/1 to win the tournament. That feels about right.
Czech Republic, meanwhile, have no business being here — and yet somehow they are. They entered the play-offs in disarray: poor group campaign, Tomas Soucek stripped of the captaincy after a row with fans, a new 74-year-old coach in Miroslav Koubek. Then they came from 2-0 down against Ireland, won on penalties. Beat Denmark in the final, also on penalties, despite being second-best for most of it. They've discovered something in those shootouts — a collective nerve that doesn't show up in possession stats or xG models. Patrick Schick, averaging close to a goal every two caps, is the attacking reference point, and Ladislav Krejci — one of the few bright spots in Wolves' relegated season — offers the kind of all-action energy that could make them hard to beat even when outplayed.
- Mexico (FIFA 15th, 80/1 to win WC) — Should win the group, but the pressure of hosting is real and the Qatar collapse is recent memory.
- South Korea (FIFA 25th, 400/1) — Too dependent on ageing stars, defensive concerns unresolved. Need the Czech result to go their way.
- Czech Republic (FIFA 40th, 300/1) — No attacking coherence, but a new mental toughness and Schick in form. Dangerous in tight games.
- South Africa (FIFA 60th, 1000/1) — Broos has set the bar at not being embarrassed. That's probably a fair target.
Mexico win the group. The race for second comes down to that Friday night in Guadalajara. Czech Republic's grit versus South Korea's individual quality — a coin flip that the group standings will hinge on. South Africa's best hope is nicking a draw somewhere and hoping the others do them a favour. Broos isn't banking on it, and neither should anyone else.
