Czechia
0–3
Mexico
Mexico wrote their name into the record books with a 3-0 win over Czechia at the Estadio Azteca, becoming the first Mexican team ever to win all three of its group matches at a World Cup. Strikes from Carlos Chávez, Julián Quiñones and a stoppage-time Fidalgo effort secured maximum points and top spot in Group A for Javier Aguirre's side, who never looked like surrendering their proud Azteca record. Czechia, beaten on the night, exit the tournament.
The win turned the famous old stadium into a carnival, and there was a sense of a campaign building towards something special. With nine points from nine and a clean sheet to show for the evening, Mexico could hardly have asked for a more emphatic way to top their group before the knockout rounds.
Mexico broke through in the 55th minute, Carlos Chávez sweeping a Romo pass into the bottom-left corner for his first World Cup goal at the age of 22. Quiñones doubled the advantage in the 61st, pouncing on a loose ball after Holeš's attempted clearance rebounded off Sánchez, the forward's second of the tournament. The contest decided, Aguirre sent on the 40-year-old Guillermo Ochoa for an emotional cameo, the veteran goalkeeper lifted high by his team-mates in a moment of pure celebration. Fidalgo added gloss deep in stoppage time, curling into the top-left corner from Alvarado's pass to seal a 3-0 win and complete a perfect group.
Mexico's maximum return bettered the two-win, one-draw campaigns of their 1986 and 2002 teams — both also led by Aguirre — and stands as the finest group-stage showing in the nation's history. The venue magnified the achievement: the Estadio Azteca, a World Cup host in 1970, 1986 and now 2026, has never witnessed a Mexican defeat at the finals, a record stretching to six wins and two draws. Ochoa's appearance lent the night further weight, the goalkeeper adding to a remarkable personal collection of World Cup memories in front of an adoring home crowd.
As Group A winners on nine points, Mexico will remain at the Estadio Azteca for their Round of 32 fixture on June 30, a significant edge entering the knockouts. South Africa take second after beating South Korea, earning a tie with Group B's Canada, while South Korea slip to third and await the best-third-placed maths. Czechia finish bottom on one point and head home. For Mexico, a flawless group at a fortress venue could hardly be a better launchpad, and Aguirre's measured "step by step" approach suddenly looks loaded with promise. Our forecast of over 2.5 goals landed, with three goals in Mexico's 3-0 win.
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Mexico | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | +6 | 9 |
| 2 |  South Africa | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -1 | 4 |
| 3 |  South Korea | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -1 | 3 |
| 4 | Czech Republic | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | -4 | 1 |
Czechia must attack to survive and Mexico carry a potent attack even if rotated, pointing to an open game that clears 2.5 goals.
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