The 2026 World Cup officially begins Thursday with two Group A matches kicking off the tournament. Mexico and South Africa got things started earlier in the day before South Korea takes on Czechia in Guadalajara, Mexico, at 10 p.m. ET.
Although neither South Korea nor Czechia enters the World Cup as a tournament favorite, both nations have enjoyed success on the international stage and enter the competition with momentum. The 2026 World Cup marks South Korea’s 11th consecutive appearance, with its best finish coming in 2002 when it reached the semifinals and ultimately finished fourth. The Taegeuk Warriors also advanced to the Round of 16 at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
For Czechia, this is its 10th World Cup appearance and first since 2006, ending a 20-year absence from the tournament. The Czechs arrive in strong form and will look to make the most of their long-awaited return to the sport’s biggest stage.
More recently, South Korea won both of its international friendlies leading into the World Cup, recording a 5-0 victory over Trinidad and Tobago on May 30 before defeating El Salvador 1-0 on June 3. Czechia has won six consecutive matches dating back to Nov. 13, including three UEFA World Cup qualifying victories, two of which were decided in penalty shootouts.
South Korea vs. Czechia Current Odds
Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook lists South Korea as the favorite for Thursday night’s Group A fixture against Czechia.
- South Korea: +165
- Czechia: +195
- Draw/Tie: +200
South Korea vs. Czechia Picks & Predictions for June 11
Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook’s Stats Hub offers extensive soccer betting insights, trends, trackers, and standings for the 2026 World Cup. Be sure to take advantage of those resources when placing wagers throughout the tournament.
Below is a featured pick for Thursday night’s Group A matchup between South Korea and Czechia:
South Korea vs. Czechia Three-Way Moneyline Pick: South Korea +165
South Korea and Czechia both won their two international friendlies leading into the World Cup, but South Korea appeared slightly sharper overall. Czechia outscored its opponents 5-2 across those matches, while South Korea outscored its competition 6-0, highlighted by a dominant 5-0 shutout victory.
That said, Czechia has several dangerous attacking players capable of finding the back of the net, including Patrik Schick, who scored in Czechia’s 3-1 victory over Guatemala on June 4. While past World Cup results don’t always predict future success, it is worth noting that Czechia has lost three of its last four World Cup matches.
- South Korea vs. Czechia Three-Way Moneyline Pick for June 11: South Korea +165
Popular Props for South Korea vs. Czechia
South Korea captain Son Heung-min is appearing in his fourth World Cup and remains one of the most popular targets in player prop markets heading into kick-off.
- Son Heung-min – Anytime Goalscorer
- Patrik Schick – To Score or Assist
- Hyeon-gyu Oh – Shots On Target Over 0.5
South Korea & Czechia Group A Winner Odds
Advancing out of Group A is the first step toward a deep World Cup run. Mexico enters as the betting favorite to win the group, but with the top two teams from each group automatically advancing, both South Korea and Czechia have a realistic path to the knockout stage:
- South Korea to win Group A: +350
- Czechia to win Group A: +425
South Korea & Czechia World Cup Winner Odds
Of the 48 nations competing in this year’s tournament, South Korea and Czechia enter as long shots to lift the trophy. South Korea is tied for the fourth-longest odds on the board, while Czechia is tied for the third-longest:
- South Korea to win the World Cup: +25000
- Czechia to win the World Cup: +50000
South Korea vs. Czechia Match Info
- đź“Ť Location: Estadio Akron, Guadalajara, Mexico
- đź“… Date: Thursday, June 11
- ⏰ Start Time: 10:00 PM ET
- đź“ş Where to Watch: FS1, Telemundo, Peacock
- 🏆 Stage: World Cup Group Stage
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Referenced odds are subject to change.
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