Czechia v South Africa: World Cup 2026 line-ups, stats and preview, TV channel, live online stream and prediction

Czechia will face more power and less speed when they pursue their first points of the World Cup 2026 against South Africa in Atlanta on Thursday, believes defender Jaroslav Zeleny.

Ladislav Krejci gave Miroslav Koubek’s side a second-half lead they could not preserve in their 2-1 defeat to South Korea in Zapopan on matchday one.

“The game will be a little more physical,” predicted Sparta Praha’s Zeleny. “Even when the sun isn’t shining here, it’s still terribly stuffy, so training is very demanding.

“If it were like it was in Mexico everywhere, it would be pleasant. But unfortunately it’s not like that here, so we have to get used to it because there’s nothing we can do about it.”

Bafana Bafana had a forgettable evening in the first game of the tournament, losing 2-0 to Mexico with nine players.

“It was a good wake-up call for us,” head coach Hugo Broos told FIFA. “We know what we did wrong and what we have to do.

“People are talking about tactics but it is nothing to do with tactics. It was experience we missed in that game.

“This was the first time for all the players that they were playing in such an environment, in such a stadium and for such a crowd.

“I have a group of guys who learn very quickly and we will see a totally different team against Czechia.”

World Cup 2026: Czechia v South Africa team news

South Africa are without midfielders Yaya Sithole and Themba Zwane, who were shown straight red cards against Mexico.

Czechia v South Africa World Cup 2026 predicted line-ups

Czechia starting XI: Matej Kovar, Ladislav Krejci, Robin Hranac, Stepan Chaloupek, Jaroslav Zeleny, Alexandr Sojka, Tomas Soucek, Vladimir Coufal, Pavel Sulc, Lukas Provod, Patrik Schick

South Africa starting XI: Ronwen Williams, Aubrey Modiba, Mvelase Mbokazi, Ime Okon, Nkosinathi Sibisi, Khuliso Mudau, Jayden Adams, Thalente Mbatha, Teboho Mokoena, Lyle Foster, Iqraam Rayners

Where to watch Czechia v South Africa: TV channel, live online streams

Czechia v South Africa kicks off at 17:00 BST (12:00 ET / 09:00 PT) on Thursday. In the UK, live coverage is on BBC One.

Streaming on a vast range of devices is available through the BBC iPlayer app and BBC Sport website.

World Cup 2026: Czechia v South Africa stats

• Czechia are at the World Cup for the 10th time, including eight participations as Czechoslovakia in the previous century, losing the final in 1934 and 1962
• This is their second participation this century, after being eliminated in the 2006 group stage
• They have been eliminated in five of their seven World Cup group stages, only progressing in 1962 and 1990
• Eleven of Czechia’s 22 goals in the qualifiers came from set plays, including a European-high seven from corners
• Koubek started as Czechia head coach in December 2025, after they finished second in their qualifying group behind Croatia; both of their play-off ties against Republic of Ireland and Denmark ended 2-2 after 120 minutes, winning both on penalties
• South Africa are making their fourth World Cup appearance and their first away from home soil since 2002
• They are yet to progress beyond the first round at the tournament and none of their previous 10 matches at the World Cup have ended goalless, with their two wins coming against Slovenia in 2002 and France in 2010
• Oswin Apollis was directly involved in twice as many goals as any other South African player during the qualifiers, contributing two goals and four assists
• This is Broos’ first experience as head coach at the World Cup. The Belgian is the fourth individual to lead Bafana Bafana at the tournament, after Frenchman Phillipe Troussier (1998), South African Jomo Sono (2002) and Brazilian Carlos Alberto Parreira (2010)
• As a head coach, Broos won the Africa Cup of Nations with Cameroon in 2017 and finished third with South Africa in 2023, before being knocked out in the last 16 in the 2025 edition.

World Cup 2026: Czechia v South Africa prediction

Czechia 2-1 South Africa: Despite only really threatening from set pieces against South Korea, Czechia can justify their status as considerable favourites here if South Africa are as below-par as they were against Mexico. Broos’ words may appeal to backers of the long-priced draw.

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