Group A Wide Open: Late Handball Heartbreak Denies Czechia Victory As South Africa Snatch Point
Czechia Vs South Africa Match Gallery, FIFA World Cup 2026: In a tense Group A clash, Czechia and South Africa settled for a 1-1 draw at Atlanta Stadium on Thursday, June 18. Czechia took an early lead in the 6th minute through a Michal Sadilek strike following a Vladimir Coufal long throw-in. Playing catch-up, South Africa enjoyed dominant possession in the second half, but struggled to break down the defence until the 83rd minute, when Teboho Mokoena converted a penalty after Pavel Sulc's handball inside the box. This result leaves both teams with one point, keeping their knockout hopes alive but needing big wins in their respective final group matches: Czechia face co-hosts Mexico in Mexico City, and South Africa take on South Korea in Guadalupe, both on June 24. Relive how the tense CZE vs RSA football match played out here.
South Africa supporters cheer for their national team before the World Cup Group A soccer match between Czechia and South Africa in Atlanta, Thursday, June 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)
A supporter of Czechia holds a flag of his country before the World Cup Group A soccer match between Czechia and South Africa in Atlanta, Thursday, June 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)
Referee Tori Penso jogs flanked by assistant referees Kathryn Nesbitt, left, and Brooke Mayo during warmup before the World Cup Group A soccer match between Czechia and South Africa in Atlanta, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Mike Stewart
Teams warm up before the World Cup Group A soccer match between Czechia and South Africa in Atlanta, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser
Scotland head coach Steve Clarke walks the pitch during a training session ahead of the World Cup Group C soccer match between Scotland and Morocco in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Martin Meissner
Czechia's and South Africa's flags are seen on the pitch before the World Cup Group A soccer match between Czechia and South Africa in Atlanta, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Colin Hubbard
Czechia players pose before the World Cup Group A soccer match between Czechia and South Africa in Atlanta, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Mike Stewart
South Africa team pose before the World Cup Group A soccer match between Czechia and South Africa in Atlanta, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser
Czechia's team captain Ladislav Krejci holds a pennant reading "We Play Together. We Stand Against Hate" as the Czechia players pose before the World Cup Group A soccer match between Czechia and South Africa in Atlanta, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Mike Stewart
South Africa's Mbekezeli Mbokazi heads the ball above Czechia's Patrik Schick during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Czechia and South Africa in Atlanta, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Mike Stewart
Czechia's Michal Sadilek scores the opening goal for his team during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Czechia and South Africa in Atlanta, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser
South Africa's Aubrey Modiba retrieves the ball from the net after Czechia's Michal Sadilek scored during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Czechia and South Africa in Atlanta, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser
Czechia players celebrate the opening goal of their team during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Czechia and South Africa in Atlanta, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser
South Africa's Oswin Appollis, left, passes the ball as Czechia's Patrik Schick looks on during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Czechia and South Africa in Atlanta, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser
South Africa's Thapelo Maseko falls to the ground in front of Czechia's Ladislav Krejci during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Czechia and South Africa in Atlanta, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Mike Stewart
South Africa head coach Hugo Broos the World Cup Group A soccer match between Czechia and South Africa in Atlanta, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser
South Africa's Ime Okon, left, South Africa's Khuliso Mudau, right, and Czechia's Patrik Schick jump for the ball during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Czechia and South Africa in Atlanta, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser
Referee Tori Penso, of the United States, speaks to South Africa's Iqraam Rayners during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Czechia and South Africa in Atlanta, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Mike Stewart
Czechia head coach Miroslav Koubek watches the World Cup Group A soccer match between Czechia and South Africa in Atlanta, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser
Referee Tori Penso, right, shakes hands with assistant referees Kathryn Nesbitt, left, and Brooke Mayo, during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Czechia and South Africa in Atlanta, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Mike Stewart
Czechia's Vladimir Darida shields the ball from South Africa's Oswin Appollis during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Czechia and South Africa in Atlanta, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Mike Stewart
Czechia's Lukas Cerv (12) reacts during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Czechia and South Africa in Atlanta, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Colin Hubbard
Referee Tori Penso, of the United States, speaks to Czechia's team captain Ladislav Krejci during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Czechia and South Africa in Atlanta, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Mike Stewart
Czechia's Adam Hlozek, left, takes a free kick during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Czechia and South Africa in Atlanta, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Mike Stewart
South Africa's Thapelo Maseko (12) shoots during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Czechia and South Africa in Atlanta, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Colin Hubbard
Czechia goalkeeper Matej Kovar (1) dives onto rebound during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Czechia and South Africa in Atlanta, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Mike Stewart
Czechia's Patrik Schick falls to the ground in a clash with South Africa's Teboho Mokoena, left, during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Czechia and South Africa in Atlanta, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Mike Stewart
Czechia's Vladimir Darida (8) and South Africa's Thalente Mbatha (5) fight for the ball during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Czechia and South Africa in Atlanta, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Colin Hubbard
South Africa's Aubrey Modiba kicks the ball next to Czechia's Vladimir Coufal during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Czechia and South Africa in Atlanta, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Mike Stewart
Czechia's Patrik Schick controls the ball during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Czechia and South Africa in Atlanta, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Mike Stewart
Referee Tori Penso, center, talks with Czechia goalkeeper Matej Kovar as South Africa's Khuliso Mudau lies on the ground during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Czechia and South Africa in Atlanta, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser
Referee Tori Penso during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Czechia and South Africa in Atlanta, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser
Referee Tori Penso, speaks to South Africa's Teboho Mokoena (4) during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Czechia and South Africa in Atlanta, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser
Czechia's Tomas Holes, top, heads the ball as South Africa's Oswin Appollis looks on during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Czechia and South Africa in Atlanta, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser
Czechia's Ladislav Krejci, right, stops South Africa's Khuliso Mudau during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Czechia and South Africa in Atlanta, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser
Spectators watch the World Cup Group A soccer match between Czechia and South Africa in Atlanta, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser
South Africa's Teboho Mokoena, left, passes the ball as Czechia's Pavel Sulc tries to stop him during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Czechia and South Africa in Atlanta, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser
Czechia's Tomas Soucek, background, stops South Africa's Teboho Mokoena during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Czechia and South Africa in Atlanta, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser
South Africa's Teboho Mokoena scores a penalty, his side's first goal during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Czechia and South Africa in Atlanta, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser
South Africa's Teboho Mokoena celebrates after scoring a penalty, his side's first goal during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Czechia and South Africa in Atlanta, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser
South African players celebrate after a goal during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Czechia and South Africa in Atlanta, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Colin Hubbard
Czechia's Patrik Schick gestures to Referee Tori Penso, of the United States, during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Czechia and South Africa in Atlanta, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Mike Stewart
South Africa's Evidence Makgopa jumps for the ball with Czechia's Ladislav Krejci, right, during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Czechia and South Africa in Atlanta, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Mike Stewart
The video screen shows cheering fans during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Czechia and South Africa in Atlanta, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Mike Stewart
South Africa's Oswin Appollis (7) and Czechia's Robin Hranac (4) react after the World Cup Group A soccer match between Czechia and South Africa in Atlanta, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Colin Hubbard
The video screen shows the score at the end of the regular time during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Czechia and South Africa in Atlanta, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Mike Stewart
Czechia's Ladislav Krejci reacts at the end of the World Cup Group A soccer match between Czechia and South Africa in Atlanta, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Mike Stewart
South African players celebrate after the World Cup Group A soccer match between Czechia and South Africa in Atlanta, Thursday, June 18, 2026. AP Photo/Colin Hubbard
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