Czechia vs South Africa — Live Score, How to Watch & Preview

Czechia vs South Africa kicks off in GROUP A of the 2026 World Cup. Below you’ll find the live score, the kickoff time in your own timezone, exactly where to watch in every country, the full head-to-head record and the key players to watch.

Match preview

Czechia and South Africa meet in Group A with contrasting ambitions. Czechia, a European side known for disciplined defending and set-piece threats, will rely on their experienced core. South Africa, returning to the World Cup after a long absence, bring athleticism and counter-attacking speed. Czechia's form in qualifying was solid, built on a compact 4-2-3-1 system that stifles opponents. South Africa impressed in African qualifiers with high pressing and quick transitions, but they lack top-level tournament experience. Key battle: Czechia's midfield control vs South Africa's energetic forward line. Czechia need a win to keep pace with group favorites, while South Africa will aim to frustrate and hit on the break. Expect a tense, tactical affair where set pieces could decide the outcome.

Key players to watch

Czechia

Patrik Schick (Bayer Leverkusen) — The prolific striker is Czechia's main goal threat, lethal in the box and strong in the air.
Tomáš Souček (West Ham United) — The midfield powerhouse provides defensive cover and aerial dominance, crucial for set pieces.
Vladimír Coufal (West Ham United) — An experienced right-back who offers width and delivery from deep.

South Africa

Percy Tau (Al Ahly) — The creative playmaker and captain, known for his dribbling and ability to unlock defenses.
Lyle Foster (Burnley) — A strong, pacey striker who leads the line and holds up play for runners.
Rowen Williams (Mamelodi Sundowns) — The reliable goalkeeper, excellent shot-stopper and leader at the back.

How to watch Czechia vs South Africa — by country

Kickoff is … in your local time. Here’s the official broadcaster and stream in each country:

Australia

Australia: SBS has exclusive rights and is keeping the whole tournament free. All 104 matches air live and free on SBS, SBS Viceland and SBS On Demand — no subscription needed.

Bangladesh

Bangladesh: A consortium of state broadcaster BTV, T Sports and Star News has secured the rights (confirmed days before kickoff after an earlier deal collapsed). Matches air live on BTV (free-to-air), with T Sports and Star News on cable and the T Sports app/website for streaming. As terms were only just finalised, confirm exact channel splits with local listings.

Brazil

Brazil: Grupo Globo carries every Brazil match, the final and half the remaining games across TV Globo, SporTV and Globoplay. CazéTV streams all 104 matches live and free in 4K on YouTube, and free-to-air channel SBT shows a selection including Brazil games and knockouts. Easiest free option: CazéTV on YouTube.

Canada

Canada: Bell Media is the official broadcaster. All 104 matches air on TSN (English) and RDS (French) via cable, with select games — including Canada's matches, the opener and the final — free over the air on CTV. Stream on TSN+, the RDS app, or Crave.

Germany

Germany: Deutsche Telekom''s MagentaTV holds rights to all 104 matches (44 exclusive), requiring a subscription. ARD and ZDF each show 30 matches free-to-air — including all Germany games, the opening match, semi-finals and final — on TV and their online streams.

India

India: Zee Entertainment holds the official rights. All 104 matches air on the new Unite8 Sports 1/1 HD (Hindi) and Unite8 Sports 2/2 HD (English) TV channels, and stream on ZEE5 (paid subscription, from about Rs 799 for 3 months). There is no free-to-air option, so a ZEE5 plan or a TV pack carrying Unite8 Sports is needed.

FAQ

When is Czechia vs South Africa?

Thu, Jun 18 at 04:00 PM UTC — shown in your local time on this page — in GROUP A of the 2026 World Cup.

How can I watch Czechia vs South Africa?

Through the official 2026 World Cup broadcaster in your country — for example BBC/ITV (UK, free), Fox & Telemundo (USA), beIN Sports (Middle East), SBS (Australia, free). See the full country-by-country guide on this page.