FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group A Trivia Quiz

Answer: Between 0 and 15 minutes

Following an ill-advised pass under pressure from his goalie, South Africa Sphephelo Sithole mis-controlled the ball, was tackled by Erik Lira and the ball fell to Julian Quinones who placed a low drive between the keeper's legs in the 9th minute. Quinones was denied by the woodwork during the half and South Africa's keeper, Ronwen Williams, produced a wonderful save from Raul Jiminez. 1-0 to Mexico at half time.

Shortly into the second half, South Africa's task got more difficult, as Jimenez, who was bearing down on goal, was rugby tackled on the edge of the penalty area by Sithole, who completed his miserable day by being sent off. In the 67th minute, Quinones played a one-two with Jimenez and passed to Roberto Alvarado, whose cross was headed home at the back post by the Jiminez, who had started the move. 2-0 at full time to the hosts, Mexico.

Julian Quiñones became the first North American player to score a World Cup Finals tournament opener.

Answer: 3

The Brazilian referee Wilton Sampaio gave two reds to the South Africans Yay Sithole and Themba Zwane, and late in the match the Mexican captain Cesar Montes also saw his least favourite colour.

Answer: 2-1

In a quiet first half, chances were few and far between. In the 14th minute, Lee Kang-in had a fierce shot saved by the Czechian keeper, Matej Kovar. Son Heungmin had two decent opportunities, but both attempts were sent wide. In the 56th minute, Son was again denied by Kovar.

Czechia took the lead through a strong header from their captain Ladislav Krejci in the 59th minute, who got onto the end of a long throw from Vladimir Coufal, the keeper Kim Seunggyu was helpless to stop it. The South Koreans staged a second half comeback, with first Hwang Heechan scored with a cheeky close range 'dink', and then Oh Hyeon-gyu scored the winner in the 80th minute. In the 82nd minute, Kim made an outstanding stop to deny Adam Hlozek. One minute beforehand, Czechia thought they had taken the lead, but Tomas Soucek's header was ruled offside.

Answer: 1-1 draw

Czechia started the match strongly and after six minutes, Adam Hlozek crossed from the right for Alexandr Sojka's deft touch onto Michal Sadilek, who smashed it past Ronwen Williams. The Czechs were defensively sound throughout the match and were set for victory until Pavel Sulc handled the ball, and Teboho Mokoena sent Kovar the wrong way from the spot.

South Africa have never won a World Cup Finals game after going behind. This match was the first in World Cup Finals history where both coaches were over the age of 70.

South Africa's Teboho Mokoena got booked in the 34th minute, first player to get 2 yellow cards in successive matches in the tournament; he thus missed the next match (against South Korea).

Answer: Mexico won 1-0

It was a fiercely fought match between two evenly matched countries. Goalmouth attempts were sparse in the first half. The second half started with a bang when Luis Romo scored in comical fashion after the Kim Seunggyu leapt over the top of Lee Gihyuk and dropped the ball as he fell on top of him. Romo was on hand to squeeze the ball between them and into the empty net. In the 87th minute the Mexican keeper Raul Rangel made a stunning double save from Cho Guesung and then Yang Hyunjun to preserve his side's lead.

This victory meant that Mexico are already Group A winners and are also the first country to be confirmed in the Round of 32. It also means they have now won three successive World Cup Finals matches for the first time.

Interesting fact: The first corner kick of the game came in the 2nd minute of second half stoppage time (92nd minute).

Answer: 1-0 to South Africa

In the 2nd minute, South Korea had a header from a corner blocked. In the 8th minute Lee Kangin had a shot deflected wide. In the 14th minute, a header from Evidence Makgopa went harmlessly wide. In the 19th minute, South Africa's Thapelo Maseko was bearing down on goal, only to be thwarted by Lee Gihyuk. In the 30th minute, Kim Seunggyu produced a fantastic double save, firstly from range to deny Thalente Mbatha and then was in the right place to clutch Makgopa's follow up attempt. In the 34th minute, Hwang Heechan sent a shot wide from distance. After 38 minutes, South Africa's Thapelo Maseko sent the ball over the top. After 42 minutes, Makgopa sent a shot way wide. 0-0 at half time.

In the 51st minute, South Africa's Maseko cut inside to shoot but was blocked by Castrop Jens. In the 60th minute, Oh Hyeongyu's header was well saved by Ronwen Williams. In the 63rd minute, the breakthrough. Maseko was fed from the left, cut back inside, and drilled a low shot into the bottom right corner. 1-0 to South Africa. South Korea's corner in the 85th minute was punched clear. Another corner in the 2nd minute of stoppage time - it was headed clear and when the ball was recycled, a deft little chip from the left by Jens set up Park Jinseob for a glancing header, but it was just too high, and Williams collected the ball. Full time, 1-0 to South Africa.

The result of this match along with Mexico's simultaneous 3-0 victory over Czechia, means that Mexico finish on top of the group, South Africa finish now second after this make or break win over South Korea, who finished third. Czechia will consider themselves unlucky to finish last in the group.

Answer: Three

Czechia had the first decent chance when Denis Visinsky's shot curled just wide of the far post. In the 10th minute Edson Álvarez blazed high and wide. In the 15th minute Visinsky shot wide. In the first half hour, Czechia had the better of the play. In the 37th minute, Israel Reyes' overhead kick (from near the edge of the area!) went wide. In the 38th minute, Jorge Sanchez's powerful shot was beaten away by the Czech keeper, Matej Kovar. In the 39th minute Mexico's Julian Quinones blazed over from out wide. In the 3rd minute of stoppage time, Quinones' long range shot went just over. Half time, score is 0-0.

In the 46th minute, Lukas Cerv's shot was held by the Mexican keeper, Raul Rangel. In the 52nd minute, Luis Romo was played through but instead of shooting he chose to cut back, and the chance went begging. In the 54th minute, Cerv's shot from a tight angle was blocked. In the 55th minute came the breakthrough for Mexico. Romo brought down a high ball on the centre spot, held off three opposition players and fed a measured pass to Mateo Chavez who beat the next defender, powered into the area, and placed a shot across Kovar into the far corner. It was Chavez's first goal for his country. 1-0 to Mexico. In the 61st minute, a fantastic through ball from Gilberto Mora to Sanchez saw the keeper block his effort, but the rebound fell kindly for Quinones who put it into the net. 2-0 to Mexico.

In the 78th minute, a nice touch from Mexican team management - the goalie Rangel was replaced by veteran Guillermo Ochoa, who now was appearing in his fourth World Cup Finals game in his sixth tournament. In the 3rd minute of stoppage time, David Doudera tried an ambitious volley from wide of the goal, which is exactly where the ball ended up. In the 4th minute of stoppage time, Roberto Alvarado played in Santiago Giminez from the right, Giminez's shot was blocked by Kovar, but the eventual rebound was slammed into the top corner by Alvaro Fidalgo. Full time, 3-0 to Mexico.

The result of this match meant that Mexico finished on top of the group, South Africa finish second after their make or break win over South Korea, who finished third. Czechia will consider themselves unlucky to finish last in the group.

This match was the first time Mexico have won all three of their group stage matches at a World Cup Finals tournament, and the first time they have kept clean sheets in all of their group stage games since they hosted in 1970.

Answer: Julian Quinones (Mexico)

Julian Quinones got off to a great start, scoring after nine minutes in his country's first match against South Africa. He followed that up with another against Czechia in the third match.

All of the other players in the list scored one goal apiece, in what was a very low scoring group overall.

There were no own goals scored in this group.

Answer: Mexico

Group winners Mexico scored six, whilst the other three countries scored two each.

Answer: Czechia

Czechia's plans didn't turn out well, allowing six goals. South Africa and South Korea conceded three, and Mexico (along with Spain) were the most miserly country across all groups - they conceded no goals at all.