South Africa face Czech Republic in Group A at the 2026 FIFA World Cup™, live from Mercedes-Benz Stadium on June 18, 2026. Here’s how to watch live on TV.
- Time: 12:00 PM ET
- Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA
- TV Channels: FOX, Telemundo
How to Watch South Africa vs. Czech Republic on June 18, 2026
You can watch Czech Republic take on South Africa live on DIRECTV on FOX, Telemundo on June 18, 2026 at 12:00 PM ET.
South Africa (0-0-1) vs. Czech Republic (0-0-1) — Group A Match Preview
South Africa and Czech Republic both arrive in Atlanta at Mercedes-Benz Stadium chasing their first points of Group A, each carrying a 0-0-1 record after an opening-day loss. South Africa are back at the World Cup for the first time since hosting in 2010, when they became the only host nation ever eliminated in the group stage, while Czech Republic make their first appearance since 2006 as an independent nation and qualified dramatically through the UEFA playoff by beating Denmark on penalties.
The Czechs lean on Patrik Schick, the Bayer Leverkusen striker who scored 16 goals in the Bundesliga this season, and against him stands Ronwen Williams, the South Africa captain and goalkeeper who kept 13 clean sheets across 29 starts for Mamelodi Sundowns. South Africa’s own threat runs through Lyle Foster, a Burnley forward who plies his trade in the Premier League, with midfield engine Teboho Mokoena chipping in 4 goals from deep this season. Czech Republic build around captain Ladislav Krejci at the back and West Ham’s Tomas Soucek in midfield, a box-to-box presence who added 5 goals in the Premier League. Coach Hugo Broos, who won the 2017 AFCON with Cameroon, knows a win would lift South Africa off the bottom of a group where every point matters in the expanded 48-team format.
National TV
FOX, Telemundo
What Time is the Czech Republic vs. South Africa Match Today?
The South Africa vs. Czech Republic match starts at 12:00 PM ET.
Where Can I Watch South Africa vs. Czech Republic?
You can watch South Africa vs. Czech Republic on FOX and Telemundo.
Players to Watch: South Africa vs. Czech Republic
South Africa
Lyle Foster — Striker. Foster carries South Africa’s attack as a Europe-based forward at Burnley, where he managed 3 goals and 2 assists across 15 starts in the Premier League this season. His 20 shots point to a willingness to take the game to a Czech back line that conceded in its opener.
Teboho Mokoena — Midfielder. The Mamelodi Sundowns man is the engine of this side, arriving on the back of 4 goals and 2 assists in the South African Premiership this season. His 43 shots in 18 starts make him a genuine scoring threat from central areas, not just a distributor.
Ronwen Williams — Goalkeeper. The captain and last line of defense, Williams posted 13 clean sheets and 46 saves across 29 starts for Mamelodi Sundowns this season. He famously saved four penalties against Cape Verde at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, the kind of nerve that could keep South Africa in any tight match.
Czech Republic
Patrik Schick — Striker. Schick is the primary goal threat, fresh off a 16-goal Bundesliga campaign with Bayer Leverkusen this season. He registered 72 shots and added 3 assists across 23 starts, the volume of a center forward built to lead the line.
Tomas Soucek — Midfielder. The West Ham man is a box-to-box presence who scored 5 goals in the Premier League this season. With 26 shots across 24 starts, his late runs into the area give Czech Republic a second wave of attack behind Schick.
Ladislav Krejci — Defender. The captain and defensive leader anchors the back line out of Wolverhampton Wanderers, where he started 27 matches in the Premier League this season. He also chipped in 2 goals and 1 assist, a reminder of the threat he carries on set pieces at the other end.
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